PAC reports $181,022 in TV ads against Sullivan ahead of Alaska's Aug. 18 primary

Independent groups reported nearly $210,000 in new independent expenditures targeting Alaska's Senate race this week, according to federal filings.

AB PAC reported spending $181,022 on television advertising opposing Sen. Dan Sullivan, according to a 48-hour independent expenditure notice filed July 27. The filing lists the amount as an estimated cost. It puts the committee's calendar-year spending against Sullivan at $588,045. The ads were placed through K Squared Media of Chicago.

Midnight Sun PAC reported $28,853.80 on direct mail supporting Mary Peltola in a notice filed Thursday. That brings its 2026 total for her to $57,707.60. The filing describes that figure as an estimate as well. The Pivot Group of Washington, D.C., was the payee.

Federal rules require such 48-hour notices when a committee spends $10,000 or more up to the 20th day before an election. Expenditures made during the final 20 days are generally subject to 24-hour reporting. Independent expenditures may not be coordinated with a candidate.

Sullivan asked the Federal Election Commission in June to investigate Majority Forward, Senate Majority PAC and related entities, alleging they coordinated with a decoy candidate in the race. He wrote in his complaint that they had "engaged in an unlawful scheme to rig the election for United States Senate in Alaska." A Senate Majority PAC spokesman told the Washington Free Beacon in June that the group never communicated with the decoy candidate, calling the matter "much ado about nothing." Nothing in the new filings connects that dispute to AB PAC or Midnight Sun PAC.

Sabato's Crystal Ball rates the seat a toss-up.