With the Alaska Democratic Party in a malaise, former Rep. Mary Peltola is being promoted as the headliner at a special event the party is planning for Juneau on April 24.
It’s called the “White King Dinner,” which likely does not refer to the prized salmon, (not a specialty of the Crystal Saloon, which is the venue), and does mean “white privilege,” but more likely refers to the coveted chess piece on a chess board.
The dinner is all about manipulating the political chess board in 2026.
The Democrats are bringing in some national pollsters to help them reset their party, whose many legislative and other leaders will be in Juneau that week, and to come up with a strategy to take back seats and keep existing ones. They’ve just got to get all the chess pieces in the right place on the board.
“The event will also feature Celinda Lake from Lake Research Partners and Sathvik Kaliyur from New Way Forward. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Alaska Democratic Party,” the invitation says, calling the White King Dinner “an evening of dinner, drinks, and conversation about how we’re going to win in 2026.”
The Democrats are out of money nationwide. In Alaska, donations have ground to a halt, if you set aside the contributions from the Democratic National Committee, according to filings at the Federal Election Commission. The Alaska Democratic Party only received $22,116.75 in individual contributions during the first two months of the year, a small amount for a party that has in the past had a big checkbook and a lot of donors.
Considering that the Alaska Democratic Party had fewer than 20 unique donors in the first two months is showing that the rage machine isn’t translating to party support
At the national level, vulnerable House Republicans raised an average of $994,000 with average cash on hand of $1.2 million. On the Democratic side, vulnerable House Democrats raised an average of just $506,000 with average cash on hand of $642,000, according to James Downs of the National Journal.
Congressman Nick Begich, who has been put on the target list by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, raised the most money in the first quarter of a non-election year than any previous congressional representative for Alaska. The enthusiasm is growing for the policies of the Republicans, as people shrink away from the bizarre talking points of Democrats, who appear to have El Salvadoran criminal MS-13 gang members as their most loyal constituency in 2025.
That the Democrat Party is flying the loser of the 2024 congressional race to Juneau to headline the event shows that the Democrats still consider her the top person to reinvigorate the base, which has a heartbeat in Juneau. The Democrats simply don’t have any big draws other than Peltola. Sen. Forrest Dunbar, known to have higher ambitions, is not that well liked by the party.
The pollsters who the party is bringing into Juneau are also looking to find potential clients for 2026.
Pollster Celinda Lake’s biggest clients are national Democratic campaigns, progressive organizations, and issue-groups like women’s concerns, economic inequality, and climate justice. She was a lead pollster for the Biden campaign in 2020 and works with the Democratic National Committee and other national entities. She was the pollster for former Sen. Mark Begich, a Democrat who won in 2010 against former Sen. Ted Stevens, but lost in 2014 against Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Lake Research Partners served as a pollster for Peltola’s successful 2022 congressional campaign. Lake was part of Peltola’s top-tier campaign team, which included Anchorage’s Ship Creek Group.
Kaliyur of New Way Forward was also a paid consultant to Peltola’s successful 2022 congressional campaign. New Way Forward also works for hardcore leftists like Squad member former Rep. Cori Bush, who was defeated in 2024, as was NWF client Peltola.
At this fundraising dinner event, to be held at the Crystal Saloon, the Democrats will be discussing US Senate, House, and the Alaska governor’s race.
Here’s what the invitation says:
Juneau White King Dinner
“Join Rep. Mary Peltola and the Alaska Democratic Party for dinner! We’ll have a conversation about how we’re going to win 2026 with Rep. Mary Peltola, ADP Chair Eric Croft, and Sathvik Kaliyur from New Way Forward.
“The Alaska Democratic Party is making sure that the issues most important to us here at home — like advocating for education funding, combatting outmigration, and protecting our working families — are being addressed at every level. We’re working to make sure that the progress Democrats made on the ground in 2024 continues to position us to fight Republicans’ extreme agenda and strengthen our party’s power. Together, Alaska Democrats can win the Governorship, U.S. House, and Senate seats – AND keep control of our State House and Senate in 2026.
“But to do this, we cannot sit on the sidelines. With your support, we can continue to stay in the fight, build the strongest Party possible, and help elect leaders who will put people first. Your contribution will help us:
“- Build the bench of Democratic candidates who are invested in improving the lives of all Alaskans and tackle issues like high costs of living and preserving our way of life.
– Invest in year-round organizing efforts and spend time in every ZIP code to build an even stronger network of engaged voters.
– Support our regional parties and provide them with the resources they need to be successful.
Hold far-right extremists like Governor Mike Dunleavy, Rep. Nick Begich, and Sen. Dan Sullivan accountable for their actions.
– Build up our staff and volunteers so we have the capacity and infrastructure to contest every race in the state and win.
“Thank you for your continued support of the Alaska Democratic Party. When we work together, we win.”
The Democrats do not mention Sen. Lisa Murkowski in their list of “extremists.”
“White King” is somewhat odd terminology, however, for the Democrats who are demanding a return to segregation in an attempt to “save democracy.”
The fact that they plan to so openly discuss the campaign playbook means they are trying to convince their donor base that they have answers. But they are bringing in two groups from outside Alaska to instruct the Democrats on what Alaskans think, and they are getting organized to rebrand the Alaska Democratic Party for the 2026 election cycle.
“White King” sounds very Neo Nazi-ish……just sayin’
Definitely has racist overtones. No surprise from the party that founded the KKK.
You might notice that they say they are “advocating for education funding,” not fixing education. As usual, buy votes with tax cash and then do whatever in hell they want. These particular democrats may be shifty and mean, but they don’t exactly exude intelligence.
Because their most reliable constituents are the teacher’s unions, followed by other public employee unions.
My favorite part: “…they are bringing in two groups from outside Alaska to instruct the Democrats on what Alaskans think,…”
I hope enough Democrats realize this and decide that being a pawn has become intolerable.
What that really means is they are bringing in two groups from outside Alaska to instruct Democrats on how to tell Alaskans what to think. Apparently, according to the Democrat Party at large, these Alaska Democrat incompetents haven’t been doing a good job keeping their entrusted Alaska mind-slaves in line. New tools are needed to whip their constituency back into obeyance.
And yet with only half the state membership as the Republican Party the Dems run the show. Republicans would do well to pause their main task of blowing up balloons and waiving flags to see why they continually get outmaneuvered by a distinct minority. Say what you want about the Dems but they know how to win elections and keep control. Republicans know all about purity tests and in fighting. How is that working out??
Joe, yours is the most refreshingly clear and profound comment on this board. No problem is ever solved before it is first clearly identified and explained.
Democrats have been reduced to pawns on a chessboard, being manipulated and knocked off the board by Trump and MAGA. Soon, it will be checkmate.
Democrats are LOSERS.
Sam, clear your mind and start over. With a minority of members, they took control of our legislature. That does not fit the definition of “losers.”
Celinda Lake is a nationally recognized advocate and funder of gun control. She ran Fran Ulmer’s failed and abysmal gubernatorial race in 2002, and she advised Ulmer to claim that she was always armed on the campaign trail, switching to a .44 magnum revolver when in rural Alaska. It looked pretty stupid to Alaskans.
No Alaskan would employ Lake if he/she believed in the individual right to keep and bear arms. But Reps Josephson and Carrick have gun control bills in the legislature right now. Back in the Ulmer election race days Lake was linked romantically with the KMart spokeswoman at the time, and that person was also a leader in Democrats gun confiscation efforts.
It’s curious that Alaska Democrat strategists would use Mary as a fundraiser and rainmaker while she is a lobbyist with Holland & Hart, and before Mary has been directed to a particular 2026 race. Sitting outside this event and making a record of who attends would be interesting. What kind of security is brought to the event would also be interesting.
Is no-show Peltola the best the dems can come up with? I think Elmer Fudd has a great shot to best her in a vote for anything.
After Fudd, it would be Goofy, followed by Popeye, Olive Oil and then Pluto …….which is the planet most Democrats now belong.
scary mary, just does not realize her time is up!
she was a flash in the pan!
The chess comparison is great.
.
Winning chess players will sacrifice whatever’s necessary, including their most valuable piece, the Queen, to win the game.
.
They know too that the lowliest man on the board, the Pawn, can checkmate the King.
.
Something for us and them to keep in mind, yes?
I thought that Forrest Dunbar was the future of the Democratic Left in Alaska. Or has he bought a house in California with a plan to check out, as many leftists seem to do?
Is Cathy Giessel attending? Is her star still rising?
They’re calling Dunleavy and Dan Sullivan far right extremists?? What does that make the rest of us? Mary Peltola is a lot like Mayor LaFrance: There physically but absent mentally.
We’re MAGA of course, the communist athiest’s anti Gaia or something.
Proud deplorables! (thanks Hillary, you nailed us)
I would guess the Democrat front groups like NewWay Forward are going to be short $$$ as the USAID taxpayer monies dry up, so they will try to get Alaskan Dems to cough up more to cover the shortage.
Oh, yeah! Of the sheeple, by the sheeple, and for the sheeple, eh? Nothin’ is too good for the rabble!
White king. Wtf. Racist a little Mary.??
Wonder if Lisa will attending since she and Mary are so closely aligned.
I think there will be white king salmon on the menu. Just sayin.
I think there will be white king salmon on the menu …. just sayin.
Nothing wrong with Alaska that a Murkowski-Peltola-LaFrance-Peltola machine can’t fix, no?
Brad,
“There physically but absent mentally” seems to be the new Democratic motto. On the local, state, and national level!
The “King” part of the name of this gathering is also somewhat enlightening…how many Dem anti-Trump and anti-Elon protest signs were out there that said something like “we didn’t elect a King” or that Trump was acting like he was the King….and now they want to be the King (or Queen) or wouldn’t be Xing for a Dem that isn’t sure????
I love me some white king, but that has to be the most poorly thought-out title for a dinner that I have ever seen. “King” and “white” are both anathema to leftists.