Super PACs report nearly $1 million in Alaska Senate spending on a single day

Three outside spending groups reported nearly $1 million in spending on Alaska's U.S. Senate race in a single day, according to 24-hour notices filed with the Federal Election Commission this week. The primary is 12 days away.

Americans for Prosperity Action reported $520,332 on Aug. 4 supporting Sen. Dan Sullivan. Most of that was a single $500,000 media placement through an Arlington, Virginia, firm. The group's reported calendar-year-to-date total for Sullivan is now $959,934.

Last Frontier PAC reported $440,798 the same day opposing Mary Peltola, split across two media placements and one media production charge. That brings the group's reported calendar-year total against Peltola to about $3.2 million.

Fair Deal Alaska reported $33,653 in printing and postage opposing Peltola the same day. The same filing shows the group spent $16,708 supporting Carol Hafner, a Democrat also running for the Alaska seat, and $16,944 supporting Richard Grayson, a candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona.

Alaska News reported in early August that super PAC spending on both sides was approaching record levels ahead of the primary.

The pro-Sullivan advertising has drawn a fact-check. FactCheck.org reviewed ads from Sullivan and Last Frontier PAC that say Peltola voted against a military pay raise. It found that the ads "misleadingly claim Peltola voted against a military pay raise, when she ultimately voted for the final bill containing the same 5.2% increase." Peltola voted against the July 2023 House version of the defense bill, then voted for the final compromise. Sullivan voted for that compromise in the Senate. FactCheck.org also found that Peltola's campaign overstated her role, noting none of the amendments she co-sponsored dealt with the pay increase.

Alaska's open primary is Aug. 18. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the top four finishers advance to the Nov. 3 general election.