On November 3, 2026, Alaskans Vote on Both a Governor and Whether to Limit Campaign Contributions

Alaska 2026 — Campaign Finance Report

On November 3, 2026, Alaskans Vote on Both a Governor and Whether to Limit Campaign Contributions

A factual record of documented campaign finance actions by candidates for Governor of Alaska

The Ballot Initiative

On November 3, 2026, Alaskans will vote on the Alaska Establish Campaign Contribution Limits for State and Local Elections Initiative.

If passed: individual contributions to a candidate would be limited to $2,000 per election cycle. Contributions to a joint governor-lieutenant governor campaign would be limited to $4,000 per election cycle.

Alaska voters approved campaign contribution limits by 73% in 2006. Those limits were struck down by federal courts in 2021. The Alaska House passed equivalent legislation 22–18 in April 2025. The Senate did not vote on it. The initiative was certified for the November 2026 ballot after the legislature adjourned without acting.

Every candidate for governor in 2026 appears on the same ballot as this initiative.

Since 2021, Alaska has had no individual contribution limits for state races. Every dollar contributed must be publicly disclosed through the Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC). All figures below are drawn from APOC reports filed through February 1, 2026. The next required filing deadline is July 2026. Complete records are available at apoc.alaska.gov.

The Candidates: Documented Campaign Finance Actions

Treg Taylor Republican

Total Raised $880,309

Cash on Hand $724,630

Self-Funded ~$287,000

Outside AK ~$95,000

• Top donor: John Morris, Anchorage anesthesiologist — $100,000
• Outside AK donors: ~$95,000 including $30,000+ from Utah, where Taylor previously lived
• Outside consultants: Fulcrum Intel (Tennessee), 1892 LLC (Tennessee), Strategic Impact (Kentucky), Marriott Group (Utah), Poorhouse Agency (Virginia)
• Average contribution: $2,700+ — largest in the field

Documented Event

Hosted a Washington D.C. fundraiser headlined by attorneys who have publicly criticized President Trump. Has an independent expenditure group fundraising on his behalf.

Matt Heilala Republican

Total Raised $1,364,236

Cash on Hand $1,009,480

Self-Funded $1,280,000

Outside AK (others) $37,000+

• Self-funding: 94% of total raised from candidate and spouse
• Outside contributions from others: ~$81,000 total, of which more than $37,000 from out of state
• No documented outside fundraising events

Public Statement

"I'm not in desperate need of big money from big, influential donors. There's a quid pro quo, and that's a major problem."

Adam Crum Republican

Total Raised $347,985

Cash on Hand $179,741

Self-Funded $60,000

• Largest outside contributor: Charles McGarrity of Florida, uncle of Crum's wife — $40,000
• Family contributions: More than $100,000 from family members
• No documented outside fundraising events

Public Statement

Publicly criticized Taylor for hosting a Washington D.C. fundraiser headlined by attorneys who criticized President Trump.

Tom Begich Democrat

Total Raised $347,805

Cash on Hand $214,956

In-State 92%

Avg Contribution $344

• Top donors: Justin Weaver, Anchorage — $75,000; Robin Brena, Anchorage — $50,000; Mark Choate, Juneau — $15,000
• Outside contribution: Jennifer Pritzker of Illinois — $10,000. Begich disclosed this publicly and stated he had never met her.
• More than 1,000 individual contributions averaging $344
• Campaign workers: Alaska-based
• No documented outside fundraising events

Public Statement

"Buying your way to the governorship is just not — I just don't think that's good for Alaska."

Shelley Hughes Republican

Total Raised $306,510

Cash on Hand $158,711

Self-Funded $227,000+

Avg Contribution $372

• Outside contributions from others: ~$78,000, including $25,000 from Hughes' mother
• Excluding candidate and family: 140 contributions averaging $372
• No documented outside fundraising events

Public Statements

"I've made a deliberate choice to spend my early months focused in Alaska — not in D.C., not dialing for dollars outside the state." Also: "There's typically a little disdain in this state for outsiders determining how things go here."

Bernadette Wilson Republican

Total Raised $305,984

Cash on Hand $64,794

Self-Funded $6,600

Contributors ~1,500

• Largest single contributor: Kevin Gavin of Florida — $50,000
• Outside consultants: Rival Strategy Group, New Mexico-based — $40,000+
• National endorsement: Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida
• Nearly 1,500 individual contributors

Documented Scheduled Event

On May 6, 2026, Wilson is a named guest at a fundraiser hosted by Chris and Ashlee Clarke at The Mar-a-Lago Club, Palm Beach, Florida. The invitation describes the event as "an exclusive, off-the-record conversation." Contribution levels: $25,000 per couple (Host Committee) and $10,000 per couple (Attendee). The invitation states "Contribution Information Provided Upon RSVP." The event is bundled with Doug Turner, Republican candidate for Governor of New Mexico.

Click Bishop Republican

Total Raised $283,605

Cash on Hand $130,258

Self-Funded $40

Outside AK $10,050

• Top donors: John Ellsworth, Alaska contractor — $30,000+; Jim Jansen, Lynden shipping — $27,000; Bill Corbus, former Juneau utility owner — $25,000
• Outside AK contributions: $10,050 from non-Alaska residents
• Donor base: Multipartisan — includes both conservative and progressive Alaska legislators
• More than 450 individual contributions averaging $615
• No documented outside fundraising events

Matt Claman Democrat

Total Raised $229,407

Cash on Hand $226,201

• Largest single contributor: Tim Loushin of Arizona, timber consultant — $100,000
• Excluding Loushin: 330 contributions averaging $392
• Barred from fundraising during legislative session (January 21 – May 20) as sitting legislator
• No documented outside fundraising events

Dave Bronson Republican

Total Raised $217,284

Cash on Hand $130,064

Self-Funded ~$29,000

Outside AK ~$60,000

• Outside AK contributions: ~$60,000 from out of state, including $30,000+ from Texas-based donors
• 324 contributions averaging $610
• No documented outside fundraising events

Nancy Dahlstrom Republican

Total Raised $17,809

Cash on Hand $4,880

• Previously endorsed by President Trump in her 2024 congressional race
• No documented outside fundraising events
• Donor breakdown not detailed in available public reporting

Note on completeness: These figures represent APOC reports filed through February 1, 2026 only. The next required filing deadline is July 2026, which will reflect fundraising through mid-year including any contributions from events scheduled after February. Complete donor records for all candidates are publicly available at apoc.alaska.gov.

Sources: Alaska Public Offices Commission (APOC) reports filed through February 1, 2026; Anchorage Daily News; Alaska Beacon; Alaska Public Media; Alaska Watchman; Ballotpedia. All figures drawn from public disclosure records. Next APOC filing deadline: July 2026.