Spending in Alaska legislative races heats up, with Anchorage Democrats leading in fundraising As the 2024 Alaska legislative election approaches, campaign finance data reveals significant spending in key Anchorage races. Democrats Denny Wells and Danni Hall have raised nearly $50,000 each, outpacing Republican incumbents in fundraising. The results indicate that labor unions are heavily supporting moderate candidates, while conservative groups are spending to back candidates who may not have the same fundraising capacity. JUNEAU - A few races in Anchorage that could determine the power structure of the Alaska House of Representatives attracted top political spending among legislative races during the most recent reporting period. The spending comes ahead of the Nov. 3 general election, with 50 of 60 seats in the state Legislature on the ballot alongside races for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House. August's primary results suggest that bipartisan control of the Legislature may likely continue into 2027. Candidates who have indicated they would join a bipartisan coalition led in several key races , both at the ballot box and in personal campaign fundraising.Anchorage Candidates Raise Key FundsIn campaign finance filings released last week, 30 days ahead of the November election, Anchorage Democrats Denny Wells and Danni Hall brought in a haul of roughly $50,000 each in their respective bids to challenge incumbents who currently caucus with the Republican-led minority. Fundraising for former Department of Natural Resources Commissioner John Boyle and Rep. Ky Holland, an independent one-term legislator in the bipartisan majority caucus, followed close behind with each candidate bringing in roughly $41,000 during the same period.All three races could prove pivotal to the political makeup of the state House, where the bipartisan majority caucus currently holds a slim 21-member majority. As of last week, campaign finance filings show that independent expenditure groups have also spent nearly $1 million on legislative candidates, with much of the money concentrated in races for seats in Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula, Kodiak and near Fairbanks.The biggest spender on more moderate candidates is Putting Alaskans First, a group funded largely by Alaska labor organizations. On the conservative side, Moving Alaska Forward, funded by a Wasilla-based construction company owner, and Families of the Last Frontier, which receives much of its funding from the Alaska Republican Party, have spent heavily on candidates in competitive races who have not raised as much money as their competitors through direct campaign fundraising.Independent Groups Spend On RacesMoney raised by a candidate's campaign is spent by the campaign itself. Independent expenditures, by contrast, are spent by political groups. Those independent groups are not permitted to coordinate directly with campaigns, but play a big role in political advertising. Anchorage legislative races lead in campaign fundraising A pair Democrats challenging minority caucus Republicans in Anchorage are far outraising their opponents due to support from labor groups.In the district encompassing Sand Lake and Campbell Lake, Democrat Denny Wells raised $52,076 during the latest reporting period, bringing his total fundraising to nearly $75,000. By comparison, incumbent Republican Rep. Mia Costello, lagged behind with $18,800 in contributions since August, bringing in about $42,600 overall. Wells narrowly led Costello in the primary, receiving 50.8% of the vote to Costello's 49.2%, a margin of just 57 votes.This is Wells' third attempt to unseat Costello in the House. Wells has received roughly $10,000 since August from labor unions and their political spending organizations, including groups representing firefighters and teachers. Costello's largest donor during the same period was the Alaska Republican Party, which contributed $7,000. In a district covering parts of South Anchorage and the Lower Hillside, Democrat Danni Hall has raised nearly $50,000 since August, compared with about $16,000 for incumbent Republican Rep.Julie Coulombe during the same period. The two candidates' overall fundraising hauls for 2026 are closer, with Hall raising about $68,500 and Coulombe about $55,400, which includes $1,500 Coulombe started the year with in her campaign account. Coulombe led Hall in the primary by 55 votes, receiving 50.7% of the vote to Hall's 49.4%. Hall has received support from labor organizations, including the state firefighters association, public school employees and public-sector unions.Labor Support Boosts Democratic HopesMuch of Hall's individual contributions have come from smaller, Anchorage-based donations, but she also received $5,000 from the Alaska Democratic Campaign Committee in recent months. Coulombe's fundraising has relied more heavily on larger donors, including business and industry interests. Those supporting her include the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, and political spending committees associated with the Alaska Miners Association and Marathon Petroleum's Alaska operations. The Alaska Republican Party was her largest single donor since August, contributing nearly $10,000.In another district covering South Anchorage, Girdwood and Whittier, donors are spending tens of thousands on both candidates in a race to determine who will represent one of Alaska's wealthiest districts . Independent Rep. Ky Holland's win in the district two years ago proved instrumental to a bipartisan majority taking control of the House.