Wheel Dog PAC spent about $500,000 supporting Hill as Alaska primary nears

A political action committee has spent approximately $500,000 on broadcast, radio, satellite, mail, and text messages backing independent congressional candidate Bill Hill, according to a factsheet published July 13 by the Alaska Democratic Party. The figure covers spending through July 13 and may not reflect later expenditures. Alaska's primary is August 18.

The Wheel Dog PAC spending figure covers independent expenditures supporting Hill. The factsheet, produced by the Alaska Democratic Party as a resource for Democratic primary voters, cites no comparable independent-expenditure figure for Democrat Matt Schultz.

Alongside the spending figure, the factsheet presses a second question: whether Hill would align with Democrats or Republicans if elected to the U.S. House. The document states that Hill has acknowledged voting Republican in the past and declined to say whether he would caucus with Democrats or Republicans in Congress. The Hill campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

“Democrat primary voters also need to see and read that ‘Independent’ Bill Hill can’t be trusted,” the factsheet said. “Hill said he’s voted Republican, and Hill refused to say whether he’d caucus with Democrats or Republicans in Congress, leaving the door open to vote with President Trump and MAGA Republicans.”

The factsheet is campaign-aligned material produced by a party with a direct interest in the primary outcome, and its characterization of Hill reflects that framing.

Schultz is a pastor and community leader based in Anchorage. The factsheet describes him as endorsed by Democratic elected officials across Alaska and running on a platform of protecting health care, Medicaid, and abortion rights.

Under Alaska's top-four primary system, only the four candidates receiving the most votes advance to the general election, which is decided by ranked-choice voting. Schultz and Hill are among those competing to advance.

Voting Deadlines

The voter registration deadline for the August 18 primary was July 19. Early in-person voting begins August 3. Absentee ballots begin being mailed July 24, and the application deadline for a mailed absentee ballot is August 8. Mailed absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, August 18, and electronic-transmission ballots must be received by 8 p.m. that day.