Congressman Nick Begich of Alaska announced a blockbuster campaign fundraising total of over $800,000 in the second quarter of 2025, setting a new record for off-year fundraising by any US House candidate or incumbent in Alaska history.
With more than $1.25 million cash on hand, Begich’s campaign now holds a financial edge that surpasses benchmarks set by former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, who posted monstrous political cash hauls in her previous election cycle.
The second-quarter total for April through June 2025 more than doubles Begich’s own second-quarter performance from just a year ago, when he raised $311,000 during the 2024 race, in which he unseated Peltola, despite being outspent by her by more than 427.5%.
The second quarter in 2024 had been Begich’s best of the election cycle at the time, with a 44% increase over his first-quarter 2024 figures. Now, his 2025 pace is breaking new ground for Alaska’s US House races, and even he may have a hard time topping that during the third quarter, now underway.
Begich also set a first-quarter record earlier this year.
In stark contrast, Peltola raised $375,000 in the first quarter of 2023 and reported lower cash on hand in the second quarter of 2023 than Begich currently holds in the corresponding non-election year quarter.
Even more impressive is how his campaign has done compared with his peers in Congress. Based on the 2023–2024 cycle data, the average House candidate raised around $100,000–$150,000 in the second quarter of off-year 2023, with incumbents in competitive races raising closer to $200,000–$300,000. Begich’s campaign has this year attracted far more than that.
Begich’s $800,000-plus in the second quarter of an off-year puts him at a strong advantage at a time when Democrats are in disarray and have struggled to find a competent or marginally acceptable candidate to oust him.
