August is less than two weeks away! Senator Dan Sullivan (R – Alaska) and Representative Nick Begich (R – Alaska), who are both up for re-election next year, reported impressive cash hauls on their quarter 2 campaign finance reports. The Anchorage Assembly narrowly passed an ordinance that increases the penalties for public camping in parts of the city, though enforcement still remains a question. Gunfire near Mulcahy Baseball Stadium resulted in young players hiding and a massive Anchorage Police Department response. Maria Athens is back with another bizarre video, this time from Vegas. And some politicos are on the move. 

A lot happened this week in Anchorage. I was in New Mexico visiting my parents. This is why I was not able to provide live reporting from the Assembly meeting and the gunshots near Mulcahy Stadium. But rest assured Landmine fans, I am back! 

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 seven years and returned from Juneau in May. 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. 

Q2 FEC reports show Sullivan and Begich with big cash hauls

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.

The 2026 primary is over a year away, but Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK) – who are both up for re-election next year – have been busy fundraising. Neither have any serious opponents, yet. But it’s a certainty that national Democrats will be spending big to ensure neither have an easy path to re-election. 

Quarter 2 Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports for federal candidates were due on July 15. These reports cover the period from April 1 – June 30. Sullivan has been fundraising since his last re-election in 2020. Begich has only been fundraising since January.  

Here are the Q2 highlights for each candidate:  

• Sullivan took in $1.4 million – $644,000 of which came from individuals while $280,000 came from political action committees (PAC). Another $453,000 came from joint fundraising committees (JFC). These allow individual donors to write one large check to a JFC that candidates belong to instead of multiple checks to candidates. The money is then waterfalled to the candidate from the JFC. The individual-to-candidate limits still apply. He spent $292,000 – leaving him with $3.9 million cash on hand. 
• Begich took in $785,000 – $283,000 of which came from individuals while $156,000 came from PACs. He lists refunds in the amount of $17,900. Another $363,000 came from JFCs. He spent $188,000 – leaving him with $1.26 million cash on hand. Begich also lists a debt of $425,000. This is from a loan he gave his campaign during the last cycle. He can opt to pay some or all of that back later. 

Anchorage Assembly passes ordinance to increase penalties for public camping 

During Tuesday’s (7/15/2025) Assembly meeting, the Assembly passed an ordinance to increase the penalties for camping in certain public areas, namely around schools, parks, and trails. It passed 7-5, which means it only passed by a single vote. This vote came after two meetings of public testimony plus hours of debate on amendments and the ordinance itself. 

The three conservative members – Scott Myers, Keith McCormick, and Jared Goecker – were joined by four progressive members – Zac Johnson, Daniel Volland, Yarrow Silvers, and Kameron Perez-Verdia – to pass the ordinance. This split the nine-member progressive bloc on the Assembly. Assembly Chair Chris Constant and Vice Chair Anna Brawley voted no on the ordinance. George Martinez, who voted no, actually said, “I’m savvy on a street level” and “I keep it real on the street” when talking about how he went to talk to a constituent at his house who was complaining about vagrancy. 

The original version, which applied to the whole city, was introduced by McCormick and two other members. But the version that ultimately passed was a substitute introduced by Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. Many progressives were upset with the ordinance, arguing it “criminalizes homelessness.” Ignoring how ridiculous that is, they don’t have much to worry about. LaFrance hasn’t enforced existing laws on public camping. So the idea that her administration is going to enforce new laws is laughable.

LaFrance has been in office over a year. Before that she served two terms on the Assembly, part of that as chair. Former Mayor Dave Bronson had a litany of problems, including lack of experience, bad people around him, and an adversarial Assembly. LaFrance has experience and an Assembly she is politically aligned with. There is no excuse that the public camping and vagrancy problem is as bad as it is more than a year after she took office. 

Other Happenings 

Imagine getting this text as a parent. This situation is a direct result of tolerating public camping and vagrancy in Anchorage. 

Maria Athens, the former Your Alaska Link who went nuts in 2020 with a crazy video that culminated in the resignation of former Mayor Ethan Berkowitz, is back! This time with a bizarre video from Vegas. Except the video has since been taken off YouTube. But rest assured, I have the video! Stay tuned for a Landmine livestream this week where I will show the video and talk about how loose it is.  

Jessica Bowers left her role as Governor Mike Dunleavy’s (R – Alaska) deputy press secretary to take a job Brilliant Media Strategies, an advertising agency. Brilliant is co-owned by Shareen Crosby, who formerly served as Dunleavy’s infrastructure coordinator. Congrats, Jessica!

Crystal Koeneman left her role as deputy legislative director for Governor Dunleavy to be the new deputy commissioner for the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). She previously served as the legislative liaison for. Congrats, Crystal!

Sounds like Alaska Airlines finally got this problem worked out. Must have been a wild situation for people traveling on Alaska today.

This Week’s Loose Unit 

This week’s Loose Unit is Anchorage. First, gunshots ring out from a homeless encampment near Mulcahy Stadium where a bunch of kids were trying to play baseball. Then, a man was killed and three were injured after shots were fired early this morning on Fourth Avenue outside of the Gaslight. There is not much more to say other than Anchorage seems to be turning into Gotham. I miss the Anchorage I moved to in 2004. I am sickened about what it has been allowed to become. 

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.