Former US House candidate sends $200,000 to local Democratic causes in Alaska

Matt Schultz, the former Democratic candidate for Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat, is sending $200,000 in leftover campaign funds to the Alaska Democratic Party, the organization said Sept. 4. 

About half of that figure will be distributed to state House and Senate candidates, and the other half will be kept for long-term projects, said party chair Eric Croft.

“This money was never meant to be the entire campaign for any legislative race, but rather as a powerful supplement to what the campaigns are already doing,” he said.  

One hundred thousand dollars is a notable contribution to the normally quiet races for state Legislature.

While outside groups spend tens of millions of dollars on Alaska’s U.S. House and Senate races, Alaska Public Offices Commission records from the 2024 election show that competitive legislative races typically involve less than $200,000 per candidate. 

Federal candidates typically distribute leftover campaign funds to charity or supporters after the general election; Schultz suspended his campaign ahead of the August primary in order to support independent candidate Bill Hill. 

Despite the suspension, Schultz still finished third in the primary, behind Hill and the front-runner and incumbent, Republican Rep. Nick Begich III. 

Schultz, a pastor, formally withdrew from the race on Aug. 31 and announced the redistribution of funds later in the week.

“I ran for office because of a moral calling to care for our neighbors, fight for working people, and build a future where every Alaskan has the opportunity to thrive,” he said in a prepared statement on Sept. 4. “I’m proud that investments in my campaign will continue advancing those values by helping elect leaders across Alaska ready to serve with integrity, compassion, and courage. Although my campaign may have ended, the work we started together carries on.”