No on 2 reports $8.76 million in cumulative contributions after $2.13 million influx

Correction, Oct. 5: An earlier version understated Repeal Now's fundraising as $1.42 million and consequently overstated No on 2's fundraising advantage as more than six to one. The $1.42 million figure came from the cumulative field on one amended report, but current APOC filings list $2.1 million in Aurora Action Network contributions alone and contain conflicting cumulative totals. The article also incorrectly said Repeal Now had no debts; the cited amendment reported no debts on that form but did not establish the committee's overall balance. The comparison and debt claim were removed.

No on 2, the campaign defending Alaska's open-primary and ranked-choice voting system, reported $2.13 million in contributions on its latest state filing, bringing the filing's cumulative contribution field to $8.76 million.

Ballot Measure 2 asks voters on Nov. 3 to repeal Alaska's open primary and ranked-choice voting. The measure would also eliminate campaign-finance disclosure provisions enacted under 2020's Measure 2, which currently require disclosure of true sources for contributions exceeding $2,000 a year. A 2024 repeal measure failed in a recount, 50.12% no to 49.88% yes, according to the Division of Elections.

Unite America PAC of Denver gave $1 million, bringing its yearly total to $5.08 million. Other donors included Jason Carroll of New York, who gave $500,000; Way Back PAC of Sheridan, Wyoming, which gave $275,000; the NEA Advocacy Fund, which gave $250,000 and has given $425,000 this year; and Scott Sandell of Timonium, Maryland, who gave $100,000. Most contributions by count were $10 to $250, many from Alaska addresses.

The reviewed filing did not identify the sources behind Way Back PAC. It stated, "I am unable to load the true source file. It is available from APOC." If Ballot Measure 2 passes, the disclosure rule requiring true-source filings would itself disappear.

The Oct. 2 report lists $2.18 million in paid expenditures, including $1.73 million to Long Range Media Strategies for television, radio, streaming and digital advertising in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. It also lists two payments to Ship Creek Group totaling $331,579.78 for mail production, printing and postage, and $129,000 in unpaid debts on the report.

Repeal Now's public filings do not produce a reliable cumulative fundraising total. Five currently displayed APOC forms list $2.1 million in contributions from Aurora Action Network alone, while cumulative contribution fields on Repeal Now forms range from about $913,000 to $1.54 million. The committee also reported contributions from individuals. Alaska News is reconciling the amendment chain and is not using those conflicting fields for a comparative total.

Outside money has drawn criticism of both sides. At a July 27 hearing, repeal supporter Michaela Emsweiler asked, "Why are so many people from outside Alaska putting this much money to have an election system basically play in our sandbox?" At a late-September Commonwealth North debate, Scott Kendall, arguing against the measure, said of Elon Musk, "He wrote a check to America PAC, which wrote a check to Aurora Action Network, which wrote a check to Repeal Now," adding that the disclosure rule is the only reason the public knows who those donors are.

In the nine days before the election, both groups must report contributions totaling more than $250 from a single source within 24 hours, under the commission's group calendar.