Alaska conservative Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka raised more than $750,000 in the first 94 days since becoming a candidate, according to a 2nd Quarter Federal Election Commission report she will file this week. Ninety-four percent of her donations were in small dollar amounts (under $200 each) and half of the funds she raised came from Alaska residents. This level of in-state and grassroots support stands in stark contrast to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who typically depends on major Washington, D.C. donors and Political Action Committees. Tshibaka has already raised more money than Murkowski’s three top opponents raised for their entire campaigns in 2016.
“It is inspiring to see that so many Alaskans are supporting our campaign to take back our Senate seat from the Washington, D.C. insiders,” Tshibaka said. “I am standing up for the people of Alaska, because they have always stood up for me.”
Tshibaka, who has been endorsed by President Donald Trump and the Alaska Republican Party, will report an average donation of $98, with the average donation from Alaskans coming in at $177. A total of 2,122 donations have already been received from Alaskans.
Tshibaka received small dollar donations from Alaskans from all walks of life, including: an Uber driver from Anchorage, a saw cutter from Wasilla, a boat captain from Ketchikan, an electrician from Kenai, a nurse in Seward, an entrepreneur in Aleknagik, a homemaker in Nenana, a longshoreman in Dutch Harbor, a retiree from Utqiagvik, a maintenance worker from Bethel, a pipefitter from Chugiak, a babysitter in Delta Junction, a heavy equipment operator from Fairbanks, a fisherman from Metlakatla, a construction worker in Homer, a pilot from Juneau, a welder from Kasilof, a plumber from Kodiak, a teacher in North Pole, a truck driver from Skagway, and a hairdresser in Soldotna.
The broad support for Tshibaka’s campaign from Alaskans sets her apart from Murkowski, who barely attracts funding from people in the state and relies heavily on Washington, D.C. power brokers. In Murkowski’s 1st Quarter fundraising report, she:
Raised just $10,100 from individual Alaskans, representing 3% of her fundraising.
Raised more from her Senate colleagues than she did from Alaskans.
Raised more than 30% of her total from PACs.
Raised more than 11% of her total from California.
Raised more than 12% of her total from New York.
Raised more from Massachusetts than from Alaska.
Raised more from New Jersey than from Alaska.
The figure of more than $750,000 includes what Tshibaka will report for the 2nd Quarter of 2021 combined with the amount she raised in the first three days of her candidacy, which came at the very end of the 1st Quarter. The deadline to file 2nd Quarter FEC reports is July 15, 2021.
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