Big Labor’s Anchorage-based Super PAC “Working Families of Alaska” has decided to spend some of its $100,000 war chest to support five candidates running for the legislature this year.
The five are:
- Rep. Jennifer Johnston (R-Anchorage), who voted to put the Democrats in power in the State House last year.
- Rep. Chuck Kopp (R-Anchorage), who voted to put the Democrats in power in the State House last year.
- Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux (R-Anchorage), who voted to put the Democrats in power in the State House last year.
- Sen. Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage), who recruited Democrats to vote with her against the majority of her fellow Republican legislators so that she could strip Mat-Su legislators Mike Shower and Shelley Hughes of their committee chairmanships in the Alaska State Senate earlier this year.
- Jesse Sumner, who is running to represent Wasilla in the state house.
The Super PAC has been running ads for Sumner in the Mat-Su on sites like The Frontiersman (example at bottom).
Previously, the group supported Ethan Berkowitz in his campaign for Mayor of Anchorage, supported Bill Walker in his campaign for governor, and opposed Mike Dunleavy when he ran against Mark Begich in the last election.
The support for Sumner does not come as a complete surprise, as Sumner had previously boasted the endorsement of Kelly Merrick (R-Eagle River) whose husband (Augustine “Joey” Merrick II) is the treasurer of the Super PAC.
Considering that “Working Families of Alaska”-backed candidates have consistently pursued policies opposed to the interests of the Mat-Su Valley, it is notable that Jesse Sumner’s name appears on the list. It’s possible that Big Labor has had a change of heart and decided to go conservative.
But if that’s the case, why are they continuing to support all of the same Anchorage Republicans who voted to hand over control of the Alaska State House to the Democratic Party last year?
Screenshot from Frontiersman.com:
