The Sunday Minefield – August 11, 2024

The August 20 primary is just nine days away. While the primary will only actually impact a few races, candidates all over the state are working to get out the vote in order to have a good primary showing. Some national Republican groups are spending big money to try and propel Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom (R – Alaska) ahead of Republican Nick Begich in the primary. Southcentral utilities are, unfortunately, working with a company to import liquefied natural gas to Alaska. And some politicos are on the move. 

A friendly message and reminder to all our readers. The Landmine is made possible by myself and a team of awesome Alaskans. I have been covering the legislative session in Juneau for the last six years. We are again providing in-depth coverage for both the primary and general elections. If you enjoy the content we provide, please consider making a one time or recurring monthly donation. You can click here to donate. We have a system that makes it super easy. We would really appreciate it. And thanks to everyone who has been supportive.

We will be again be providing live election coverage of the primary! Tune in to see me, Charisse Millett, and Matt Shuckerow provide results, analysis, and candidate interviews! 

Since early July, Scott Jensen and I have been filming the third installment of our ongoing documentary series on homelessness and public camping in Anchorage. The title is “Somehow, this is Still Anchorage.” You can watch the trailer below. Our first film, “This is Anchorage,” was released in the summer of 2019. Our second film, “This is Still Anchorage,” was released in the summer of 2021. These films cost money to make. If you are able to donate money to support our work, we would really appreciate it! 

Mystery Republican PAC spends big for Dahlstrom in lead up to primary

The following is an excerpt from this week’s edition of the Alaska Political Report. You can click here for more information about the Political Report. A subscription is $1,299/year per organization. Discounted pricing is available for non-profits and government entities. Our coverage of the budget starts with the governor’s proposed budget, and we track everything in detail through the entire process. If you have any questions or would like to subscribe, please email jeff@akpoliticalreport.com.

A newly formed group, the 1959 PAC, recently reported a media buy of more than $740,000 with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). The money is being spent to support Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom (R-AK) in her bid to unseat Rep. Mary Peltola (R-AK).

The large media buy, however, appears to be more about propelling Dahlstrom ahead of Republican Nick Begich in the upcoming Aug. 20 primary. Begich has stated that he will withdraw from the race if he gets less votes than Dahlstrom in the primary. Dahlstrom has not reciprocated.

There is a feeling among many Republicans that only one Republican should face Peltola in the November general election. This, in their view, is to avoid a repeat of the 2022 election where Peltola won after not enough of Nick Begich’s second choice votes went to Republican Sarah Palin in the second round.

If Begich places ahead of Dahlstrom in the primary, convincing him to drop out would be difficult. Large Republican groups like the National Republican Congressional Committee have lined up in support of Dahlstrom. A bad primary showing by her is something they want to avoid.

The 1959 PAC has not yet officially registered with the FEC, so it’s unclear who exactly is behind the group is or who is funding them. But it’s likely the Congressional Leadership Fund is funding the group. Their ad buy filing was signed by Les Williamson.

Another group, Vote Alaska Before Party, is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars opposing Dahlstrom, Begich, and Republican Gerald Heikes. Though the opposition to Heikes, a staunch conservative who has not campaigned, seems to be more about getting conservatives to vote for him in the primary. Peltola’s best chance of winning in November is for multiple Republicans to be in the general election and Republican voters not rank them, resulting in ballot exhaustion.

The listed treasurer for Vote Alaska Before Party is political consultant and lobbyist Jim Lottsfeldt.

Primary is Approaching 

Early and absentee voting started on Monday. There have been reports that some rural areas do not have the proper materials. This is completely unacceptable. Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom should be all over this, but she is involved in her own campaign for U.S. House. This is the problem with the lieutenant governor, whose main job is to oversee elections, running for statewide office. It makes it difficult for him or her to do their job when there is an election issue. 

The primary will only have a material impact three races: the U.S. House race, Senate District L, and House District 36 (see below). This is because these are the only races out of 51 (U.S. House plus 50 legislative seats) with more than four candidates. All the other races have four or less candidates, meaning all the candidates will move on to the November general election. But the results in many of those races will be telling. 

  • Dahlstrom, Republican Nick Begich, and Representative Mary Peltola (D – Alaska) will be three of the 12 candidates who advance in the U.S. House race. It’s anyone’s guess who the fourth is, but my money is on Alaska Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe.
  • Incumbent Senator Kelly Merrick (R – Eagle River) has four challengers: former Republican Representative Ken McCarty, former Republican Representative Sharon Jackson, Republican Jared Goecker, and Democrat Lee Hammermeister. Goecker is her main opponent. Goecker, Merrick, and Hammermeister will definitely advance. McCarty will probably be the fourth person. If McCarty were to advance and then withdraw, Jackson would be moved up. Merrick could be in real trouble in November if Hammermeister and Goecker have a good showing. This is because if Merrick fails to get more than 50% in the first round, it will go to ranked choice voting. A lot of Republicans in this district are unlikely to rank Merrick after Goecker. Merrick would need to finish first or second, and then need Hammermeister to go out before Goceker and hope enough of his voters rank her second. 
  • Representative Mike Cronk’s (R – Tok) is open because he is running for the open Senate seat. Six candidates are running: Libertarian James Fields, Republican Pam Goode, Democrat Brandon “Putuuqti” Kowalski, Republican Dana Mock, Republican Rebecca Schwanke, and Republican Cole Snodgrass. My guess is the Democrat and three of the Republicans will advance. The general election for this race will be fascinating.   

The gloves are coming off in Eagle River! Jared Goecker sent this one out. 

Other Happenings 

Senator Jesse Bjorkman (R – Nikiski) does not get it. You can read this Landmine story for more background, “December letter from Furie proposed nearly identical acquisition of overriding royalties as new bill from Sen. Bjorkman.” 

I repeat, this demonstrates an absolute failure by our elected leaders to properly address our energy needs. We should be immediately working to build a small diameter pipeline from the North Slope to Fairbanks. The gas could then be used for the Interior. Other gas could be liquefied and sent via rail to the Mat-Su, where it would be regasified and put into the Enstar network. That, or extend the rail from Fairbanks to the North Slope where LNG could be sent to Fairbanks and Southcentral.  

Josie Wilson left her role at the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) as director of communications and external affairs. Her new role is the VP of communications at NANA. Congrats, Josie!

Shareen Crosby and Krysten Walker Demientieff recently bought Brilliant Media Strategies. Congrats to them both! Crosby previously worked as a legislative staffer for former Senator Natasha von Imhof and on infrastructure for Governor Mike Dunleavy (R – Alaska). Demientieff previously worked for former Representative Sara Rasmussen and has been at Brilliant since December of 2020. Debbie Reinwand, who has owned Brilliant since the 90s, will get some much deserved relaxation.

This Week’s Loose Unit 

I will get right to it. This week’s Loose Unit is the Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility (AWWU). AWWU has been doing work behind my office building sine June. They are replacing some old sewer lines. Lots of people have been on site but the job continues. Seems like a long time to replace a sewer line. Anyhoo, on July 1 their contractor cut GCI’s internet cable to the building. Luckily GCI was on top of things and had people out that day to repair the cable. That alone was pretty loose. But it got way looser. 

This week, they severely cut underground power cables, killing power to most of the building. When Chugach Electric came out later that day, their guys informed the owner that it was a major cut. It was pouring rain and took them until the early hours of the morning to get the power resorted. Love those IBEW lineman! Do AWWU’s contractors not call before they dig? Or do they not look what the hell they are doing when they are working. Extremely loose behavior. Because AWWU is a government entity I doubt there will be any repercussions. 

If you have a nomination for this week’s Loose Unit, or if you have any political news, stories or gossip (or any old pics of politicians or public officials) please email me at jeff@alaskalandmine.com.

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Erik Wassell
2 months ago

And this is exactly what is wrong with politics.

About the Lt. Gov:

“It makes it difficult for him or her to do their job when there is an election issue.”

The people who make the State work do a full time job, take care of their families, volunteer to help the less fortunate, and still find time for leisure.

But if the Lt. Gov can’t do their job and run for office, it’s “difficult.”

No connection with reality.

Erik Wassell
2 months ago
Reply to  Jeff Landfield

How is there any “conflict of interest” involved in not getting the proper materials to the proper district?

Frick
2 months ago
Reply to  Erik Wassell

When they start saying again, “Ladies and Gentlemen” at online work, then I will return, but not until then! Florida is a common sense conservative state where most jd-60 people have brains! … Open The Link————➤ Workathome2623. pages. dev.
Remove spaces

Nikki C
2 months ago

What has Dahlstrom done to clean up our bloated and inaccurate voter roles in the state? Nothing. I’m tired of hearing about fraud and how elections are rigged as a reason people don’t go vote. Make the roles accurate, Nancy. Give the naysayers one less excuse.

Say wha?
2 months ago

Your Alaska energy proposals are laughably simplistic, Jeff. You arrogantly and casually profess to know how to “properly address our energy needs,” but you completely overlook problems. A rail line to the slope? If building that were an engineering possibility, it would have been done long ago–if it penciled out economically. Economics is also the impediment for a small diameter gas line, which the majors would have build decades ago if the benefits exceeded the cost. They haven’t built it because a small-diameter line wouldn’t move enough gas to pay for itself. You just toss off “solutions” like a parade… Read more »

Doug Thomas
2 months ago
Reply to  Say wha?

Jeff’s articles clearly struck a nerve this morning and judging by the strong, personal responses from an anonymous responder…maybe a teacher lawmaker themself. Say wha? that’s lame, lame to do, but can be expected when narcissistic people are exposed

Dan
2 months ago
Reply to  Doug Thomas

But, fundamentally “say what?” is correct about a bullet line to Fairbanks. It is a money loser for the producers, so it can only be done as a subsidy paid for by the government. And, while the subsidy would be fantastic for developers and business owners in Fairbanks – it’s not a smart use of public resources from the perspective of south-central, southeast or rural residents. And, I’m not sure it’s such a grand project for ordinary residents of Fairbanks. Money is nice, but we are full up here. We don’t need more people.

Steve-O
2 months ago
Reply to  Say wha?

If government is the answer then I’m afraid of what the question is.

Dan Svatass
2 months ago
Reply to  Say wha?

“ why haven’t they built your small line? Because it doesn’t fucking work! Except in your I-know-best fat head.”
-Say wha?

Whatever legitimate points you may have made were obliterated by your needlessly profane and juvenile namecalling.

Pathetic.

Say wha?
2 months ago

Trump : Harris “she’s dumb” :: Landfield : Bjorkman “too dumb”. Too bad we all can’t be as smart as Jeff.

Someguy
2 months ago
Reply to  Say wha?

Bjorkman is dumb. He’s also weird in a creepy way

Allen
2 months ago
Reply to  Someguy

Ben Carpenter, Bjorkman’s opponent, is way dumber and creepier. About Project 25, the new fascist state manifesto, Carpenter says: “what’s not to like?”