Alaska voters will decide on a ballot initiative in 2026 to establish new limits on campaign contributions to state and local candidates.
The measure, a citizen initiative backed by the group Citizens Against Money in Politics, would set specific caps on how much individuals and groups may give to candidates and political organizations. As an indirect initiative, it was certified for legislative consideration in October 2024 after meeting Alaska’s signature requirements. Because the legislature adjourned on May 20 without taking action, the measure will appear on the general election ballot in 2026.
The Alaska House of Representatives passed House Bill 16, which contains the same language as the ballot measure, by a 22-18 vote on April 28. However, the bill did not receive a vote in the Senate.
Speaking in support of HB 16, Rep. Calvin Schrage (I-12), said, “This is something that Alaskans very clearly want … This bill would allow us to reinstate those limits and again provide that protection to Alaskans — and frankly to us as elected officials — in helping to ensure that there is some faith and confidence among Alaskans in their elected officials, acting with integrity and not having undue influence on them by outsized donations.”
Rep. Sarah Vance (R-6) said in opposition to the measure, “I believe in Alaskans’ right to free speech, and the courts have ruled that political contributions are free speech … We’ve gone through an entire election cycle without any limits, and I have not once heard on record any specific Alaskan contributions that have given the appearance or showed proof of corruption.”
Alaska voters approved a campaign contribution limits initiative, Measure 1, in 2006. The measure was challenged, and in 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the measure violated the First Amendment.
Under the proposed measure, individuals would be able to contribute up to $2,000 each election cycle to a candidate, as well as up to $5,000 a year to a political party or other group. A group may contribute $4,000 each election cycle to a candidate and $5,000 a year to another group or political party. When it comes to contributions made to a joint campaign for governor or lieutenant governor in the state, an individual may contribute no more than $4,000 each election cycle, while groups may contribute no more than $8,000 each election cycle.
The initiative would not affect contributions made by super PACs or independent expenditure groups. In 2020, Alaska voters approved Measure 2, which, along with establishing top-four ranked-choice voting, required disclosure of the true sources (as defined in law) of contributions exceeding $2,000.
The Citizens Against Money in Politics campaign raised $111,362 in contributions, according to the latest campaign finance reports. The largest donors to the campaign include the New Venture Fund, the Alaska AFL-CIO, and the NEA-Alaska.
Citizens Against Money in Politics stated, “This ballot measure will reinstate fair, reasonable, and constitutional campaign contribution limits which are adjusted for inflation moving forward, ensuring these limits remain constitutional.”
This is the first statewide ballot measure certified for Alaska’s 2026 ballot. Another initiative, which seeks to repeal top-four primaries and ranked-choice voting in general elections, is in the signature-gathering phase.
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