In an email sent out yesterday by Portia Babcock Samuels, Tuckerman Babcock was named as a co-chair for the Republican Senate Majority Fund (RSMF). The RSMF raises money to support Republicans running for the State Senate.

Tuckerman is the brother of Portia, who is married to former Representative Ralph Samuels. Babcock is one of two Republicans running for the open Kenai Peninsula Senate seat that Senator Peter Micciche (R – Soldotna) is not seeking re-election for. The other Republican is Jesse Bjorkman, who serves on the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly. It’s a safe bet that the RSMF will not be donating to Bjorkman.

Senator Shelley Hughes (R – Palmer) was listed as the chair, and the three other co-chairs are Senator Mia Costello (R – Anchorage), Senator Gary Stevens (R – Kodiak), and Representative James Kaufman (R – Anchorage). Kaufman is running for the open South Anchorage Senate seat that Senator Josh Revak (R – Anchorage) is not seeking re-election for.

The email mentions am RSMF fundraiser scheduled for July 22 at the Catch Restaurant in Soldotna from 5-7 pm. Governor Mike Dunleavy (R – Alaska) will make a keynote address, according to the email.

Due to redistricting and retirement, there will be at least five new senators next year, or 25% of the Senate. But the number could be higher as several of the other races are competitive. Babcock, a long-time political operative, appears to be trying to organize a Republican majority next year. His involvement in the RSMF shows that at least some Republicans are with him.

Babcock served as Dunleavy’s chief of staff from December 2018 until he resigned in August 2019 after being demoted. His time as chief of staff was mired in controversy that started with making all political appointees sign a loyalty pledge to Dunleavy. Prior to serving as chief of staff, Babcock was the chair of the Alaska Republican Party.