Gov. Mike Dunleavy on July 9 vetoed a bill that would have reimposed limits on the amount of money that individuals can donate to political candidates. In his veto message, he expressly stated his opposition to capping how much someone can give a candidate.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Alaska’s prior limits in 2021, and the state has been without limits on political contributions since then.
Regardless of the governor’s action, a ballot measure identical to the vetoed bill is set for statewide vote in the Aug. 18 primary election.
Under the Alaska Constitution, if lawmakers had enacted a substantially similar law to a ballot measure scheduled for a vote, the ballot measure vote would have been canceled. Now, with the governor’s veto, the measure will go forward and votes will be counted.
Anchorage Independent Rep. Calvin Schrage sponsored both the ballot measure and the vetoed bill. By text message, he said he was disappointed by the governor’s veto.
“Fortunately, the ultimate power in Alaska doesn’t rest in the governor’s office; it rests with the people. This issue will be on the ballot this August, and I look forward to Alaskans expressing their will at the polls,” he said.
Supporters of the campaign finance ballot measure are confident it will pass muster at the polls. In 2006, 73% of participating voters approved a prior measure — the limits that were canceled by the 9th Circuit Court in 2021.
State lawmakers attempted and failed to pass new donation limits in 2022 and 2024 before passing legislation on the last day of the 2026 regular session in May.
If voters approve the new-limit ballot measure in August, individuals would be limited to giving $2,000 per donor per candidate in each two-year election cycle.
For the governor’s race, where a lieutenant governor candidate and governor candidate run together on a single ticket, the limit would be $4,000. The limit for donations from one person to a political party or group would be $5,000.
If a group wants to donate to a candidate, the limit is $4,000 per candidate, or $8,000 for the governor’s race.
Those limits would be adjusted for inflation every 10 years.
In his veto message, Dunleavy said he believes the limits would give an advantage to wealthy candidates who can fund their own campaigns.
Schrage said limits are important for protecting the integrity of candidates and elected officials while fighting corruption.
“All Alaskans deserve a government that answers to them, not to well-funded special interests,” he said.
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