Two of the leading campaigns for Anchorage mayor have raised over $200,000 apiece in the last year, according to their most recent reports.
Mike Robbins filed his report with the Alaska Public Offices Commission on Feb. 3, showing that he raised $210,000 for the reporting period from Feb. 2, 2020 through Feb. 1, 2021. He has spent $103,193.
Nearly all of Robbins’ donors live in Anchorage, with others coming primarily from Palmer and then a small number of donations from around the map, such as Arizona. Robbins invested more than $30,000 of his own money in his campaign.
Forrest Dunbar also filed early for the report that is not due until Feb. 18. He has raised $203,890, much of it is coming from outside Alaska. Dunbar has received more than 275 donations from people in other states, as well as several thousand dollars from labor unions. He also had money left over from previous races.
Dunbar has spent $94,545.18. He has $117,000 left to spend and as of January had significant debt from his previous race, including $10,000 to the Ship Creek Group, which is managing his campaign; more than $12,000 to Paula DeLaiarro, who manages his campaign finances; and $2,500 to the Alaska Democratic Party.
Other candidates believed to have strong financial positions are Bill Evans and Dave Bronson, neither of which have yet filed their reports with Alaska Public Offices Commission. The reporting deadline is Feb. 18.
In addition to the campaigns themselves, there are several political action committees or independent expenditure groups that have popped up to support candidates or to prevent other candidates from getting traction. They include:
- Building Alaska, supporting the Robbins campaign
- March on Alaska, supporting unnamed progressive candidates in the municipal race
- Putting Alaskans First Committee, an AFL-CIO-affiliated group
- NEA-Alaska, educators PAC
- Working Families of Alaska, associated with Laborers union
- Associated Builders and Contractors PAC
