Wasilla group reports $93,850 in September spending for six Republican legislative candidates

Moving Alaska Forward, a Wasilla independent expenditure group whose only money came from a national Republican committee, has now spent $93,850 supporting six Republican candidates for the state House. The newest payment went to a canvassing firm in Wyoming.

The group paid Patriot Grassroots of Cheyenne $50,800 on Sept. 11 for canvassing. That followed the $43,000 it paid to Lurtsema Communications of Anchorage the day before for mail, media and voter data, and $50 in bank wire fees. Both vendor payments were divided evenly among the six candidates, down to the cent.

The six are Reps. Mia Costello, Julie Coulombe and Sarah Vance, and challengers Dan Sager, John Boyle and Sheldon Prout.

All of it traces to one $250,000 contribution from the RSLC Victory Fund, the political arm of the Republican State Leadership Committee in Washington, D.C., received Sept. 9. It remains the group's only reported money. About $156,000 has not been spent.

Independent expenditure groups can spend unlimited amounts supporting or opposing candidates, but by law cannot coordinate with the candidates or their campaigns.

John Richard Carr of Wasilla registered the group with the state on Sept. 1 and serves as both its chair and treasurer. He also chaired a different group, the Alaska Voter Coalition, which the Alaska Public Offices Commission ordered last September to pay $1,727.50 for 2024 reporting violations, with a later order adding $54. The commission's record still lists $1,781.50 due.