Super PAC 'Protecting Alaska Fishermen' commits $1.4M against Sullivan

A new super PAC called Protecting Alaska Fishermen has committed about $1.4 million to oppose U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, according to a 48-hour report filed with the Federal Election Commission on Oct. 2.

As of Oct. 5, Protecting Alaska Fishermen had not disclosed its donors. Federal records showed only the committee's registration and its independent-expenditure notice.The committee registered with the FEC on Sept. 22. It lists a Washington, D.C., mailing address, no connected organization and no website, and Jud Brown as treasurer. Its filings do not name any Alaska fishing organization.

Nine days after registering, the committee obligated $1,416,276.83 in six independent expenditures, which means the money is spent separately from any candidate's campaign. All six oppose Sullivan, a Republican, in the Nov. 3 general election, where the ballot also lists Democrat Mary Peltola and Republicans Gerald Heikes and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. of Petersburg. Each expenditure identifies the incumbent by his FEC candidate number.

Most of the money goes to MVAR Media LLC of Alexandria, Virginia, which is set to receive about $1.2 million in four payments. The largest is a digital ad buy of about $1.21 million; the others cover ad production and website services. The Pivot Group of Washington, D.C., is set to receive two payments of about $93,500 each for direct mail. The first mailer went out Oct. 1, and the second is scheduled for Oct. 8. The filing does not say what the ads or mailers say or where the digital ads will run.

The committee's donors could appear in its next reports. Its first donor report is due Oct. 15 for money received through Sept. 30. Contributions received from Oct. 1 through Oct. 14 must be reported by Oct. 22.

Other outside groups have also reported spending in the Senate race. Last Frontier PAC, a separate super PAC, reported about $815,000 against Peltola in a 48-hour report filed Sept. 28. Women Vote, a super PAC affiliated with EMILY's List, reported about $2.7 million against Sullivan in a single report filed Sept. 23.