The Alaska Senate Democrats are asking Gov. Mike Dunleavy to fight a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that made the $500 campaign donation limit in Alaska illegal.
The court said in Thompson v. Hebdon that Alaska laws placing limits on certain campaign contributions violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Read: Court strikes Alaska’s $500 campaign contribution limit
“If the court’s ruling stands, there will be no limits on individual campaign contributions to candidates or political groups, and no limits on nonresidents’ campaign contributions,” the group wrote in a letter to the governor.
“Alaskans recognize the corrosive effects of big money in politics and understand that elections should not be decided simply by wealthy individuals capable of making unlimited campaign contributions—including Outsiders who do not live and work here, and cannot vote here, but seek influence over Alaska’s elected representatives for favorable policy from which they will reap benefits. Unlimited campaign contributions are a threat to our democracy and should not be permitted to drown out the voices of average Alaskans,” the Democrats said.
The campaign limit is one that especially hurts Republican candidates because they do not typically get donations from union organizations, which are exempt from the limit.
But the group is saying the governor has a constitutional duty to fight the court.
“We therefore urge you to direct the attorney general to seek rehearing en banc within the timeframe required for the petition. The case was decided by a three-member panel of judges, with the court’s Chief Judge dissenting in the outcome. If the petition is granted, eleven members of the court will review these issues, and the Chief Judge would serve on that bench,” the group wrote, adding that “The Chief Judge’s dissenting opinion is factually and legally sound, and the state should rely on that reasoning for our arguments.”
The Democrats say the ruling is going to threaten the integrity of elections and must be blocked by the governor.
“Campaign season is already underway, and there is a danger that a gap in the law could result in wealthy donors making significant, unfettered campaign contributions. Therefore, as long as legal proceedings continue or should the petition be denied, the attorney general should seek a stay of the Thompson ruling until it is overturned or until Alaska enacts constitutionally permissible changes to our donation limits,” they wrote.
Those signing the letter were Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, Scott Kawasaki, Jesse Kiehl, Elvi Gray-Jackson, Donny Olson, and Bill Wielechowski. Sen. Lyman Hoffman, a Democrat, did not sign the letter.
