U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, of Alaska, reported raising $2.3 million in just over three weeks in September, leaving the Democrat with a large cash advantage over Republican rivals Sarah Palin and Nick Begich heading into the Nov. 8 election.
Meanwhile, Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Kelly Tshibaka, a Republican challenger backed by former President Donald Trump, each raised just over $1 million from late July to Sept. 30, though Murkowski had about three times more cash available at the end of the period.
The filings Saturday with the Federal Election Commission for the House race cover Sept. 6 through Sept. 30. Filings in the Senate race covered July 28 through Sept. 30.
Peltola on Aug. 31 won a special election to fill Alaska’s House seat until January in a race that also included Palin and Begich. Next month’s election will decide who holds the seat for a two-year term, starting in January.
Peltola, in the latest filings, reported having nearly $2.3 million available at the end of September. Palin, a former Alaska governor and the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee, reported bringing in about $230,000 during the latest period and having about $195,000 available.
Begich reported raising about $57,500 and having just over $545,000 available. Begich loaned his campaign $650,000 earlier in the cycle.
Libertarian Chris Bye, also running in next month’s ranked choice election, reported raising about $1,400 and had nearly $3,800 available.
Alaska voters in 2020 approved an election overhaul that calls for ranked vote general elections. The first ranked vote election under the new system was the August special election won by Peltola that decided who would fill the remainder of the late Rep. Don Young’s term. Young, a Republican, held the seat for 49 years. He died in March.
Peltola has said that she wants to continue what she has called Young’s “legacy of bipartisanship.” In a recent ad, she says she’s running “for Don Young’s seat in Congress.”
Murkowski reported bringing in nearly $1.1 million and having $3.5 million available at the end of September. Tshibaka reported raising just over $1 million and having about $1 million available. Democrat Pat Chesbro, who is also running, reported raising about $125,000 and having about $64,000 on hand.
