No on 2 has raised $8.76 million to Repeal Now's $1.42 million

No on 2, the campaign to keep ranked choice voting, has raised $8.76 million overall, compared with $1.42 million for Repeal Now. That gives No on 2 a little more than a six-to-one fundraising advantage. Its total rose from $6.63 million after the campaign reported $2.13 million in its latest 10-day filing with the Alaska Public Offices Commission on Friday, Oct. 2.

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 ($500,000), Way Back PAC of Sheridan, Wyoming ($275,000), the NEA Advocacy Fund ($250,000, $425,000 this year) and Scott Sandell of Timonium, Maryland ($100,000). Most contributions by count were $10 to $250, many from Alaska addresses.

The filing does not show who funds Way Back PAC, stating, "I am unable to load the true source file. It is available from APOC." If Ballot Measure 2 passes, the disclosure rule requiring such filings would itself disappear.

No on 2 spent $2.18 million in the period, mostly on advertising, including $1.73 million to Long Range Media Strategies for TV, radio, streaming and digital buys in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, plus about $331,600 to Ship Creek Group for mailers and social ads. It reports $129,000 in debts.

Repeal Now reported $5,650 in new contributions and $622.81 in spending in its latest 10-day report, filed Sept. 29 and amended Friday. It has raised $1.42 million in total and has no debts.

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 over $250 from a single source within 24 hours, under the commission's group calendar.