PACs report $187,000 in new spending backing Peltola and Hill

Independent Spending Surges Before Alaska Primary

Outside groups reported about $187,000 in new independent spending on two Alaska federal candidates in the two days before the Aug. 18 primary ballot fight entered its final stretch.

OUR FUTURE UNITED PAC reported $123,182 supporting Mary Peltola, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, in a Form 24 notice signed Saturday by treasurer Peter Sarasohn. Wheel Dog PAC filed two notices Friday supporting independent U.S. House candidate Bill Hill, for $61,845 and $2,326. The filings carry Federal Election Commission committee identifiers C00927301 and C00944389. Independent expenditures may not be coordinated with a candidate's campaign.

Outside money has been the defining feature of both races. Alaska News previously covered filings showing Wheel Dog PAC spending more than $320,000 for Hill and Last Frontier PAC spending more than $2.1 million against Peltola. Senate Majority PAC announced an initial $10.6 million television reservation in Alaska "to support Mary Peltola against Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan."

More 24-hour notices are due as the primary approaches.