AGP Executive Report

Alaska Senate Fight: The New York Times reports that aides to Mary Peltola and Democratic campaign officials helped recruit Dan J. Sullivan, a candidate with the same name as Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, potentially to draw votes from the incumbent. Peltola was reportedly aware but not directly involved; the Democratic Senate campaign committee denies involvement. Separately, Alaska officials and Peltola are asking a judge to dismiss the Justice Department’s suit seeking to block certification if the Republican loses. Governor’s Race: Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, praising his ability to work across party lines. Transportation: Alaska Airlines plans to launch nonstop Anchorage–Tokyo flights in mid-2027. A plane stranded in Wrangell after an engine failure was expected to depart Wednesday; no one was hurt. Community & Economy: Ketchikan Indian Community received $5 million toward a tribally led healing and recovery campus, while six Alaska port projects are sharing nearly $105 million in federal funding. Fairbanks Schools: The superintendent reported gains in reading and graduation rates, while math proficiency remains a challenge.

Election Lawsuit: Alaska officials are asking a federal judge to dismiss the Trump administration’s bid to block certification of the Senate race if Republican Dan Sullivan loses. The challenge centers on two candidates with similar names; a judge has appeared skeptical, while some rural absentee-voting sites failed to open ahead of the midterms. Governor’s Race: Sen. Lisa Murkowski endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, saying Alaska needs leaders willing to work across party lines. Air Travel: Alaska Airlines plans new nonstop flights from Anchorage to Tokyo, Nashville, Dallas and Austin, with the Tokyo service set to begin in 2027. Ports: Six Alaska projects, including upgrades in Whittier, Unalaska, Kodiak, Nome, Anchorage and Kake, are set to receive nearly $105 million in federal funding. Mining: Nova Minerals secured final state permits for its Alaska antimony project and is targeting production in 2027. Anchorage: Unhoused residents say access to drinking water can be difficult, with some relying on outdoor taps offered by local residents.

Alaska Election Fight: A federal judge fast-tracked Democrats’ bid to dismiss the Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking to block certification of the Senate race if Republican Dan Sullivan loses. Judge Sharon Gleason questioned why the suit was filed after voting began; Mary Peltola and state officials argue it unlawfully interferes with Alaska’s election. Ports and Travel: Federal officials awarded more than $100 million for Alaska port projects. Alaska Airlines is also planning seasonal nonstop Anchorage–Tokyo service starting in May 2027, pending approval. Southeast Weather: Forecasters say past strong El Niño winters in Southeast Alaska have tended to be warmer and less snowy, but stress that pattern is not a forecast. Ballot Proposition 2: An opinion writer urges Alaskans to vote no, arguing the measure would weaken campaign-spending disclosure rules and invite more outside money into state elections.

Alaska Senate Fight: Mary Peltola has asked a federal judge to dismiss the Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking to block certification if Republican Dan Sullivan loses. President Donald Trump says he ordered the suit, which cites possible voter confusion because another candidate shares Sullivan’s name. Western Alaska Storm: Residents in Kivalina are still coping with power outages affecting the water plant after Friday’s storm; about 175 people sheltered at the school, and crews are heading to damaged communities. A washout has also closed Nome Council Road. Public Safety: Fish and Game warns that pumpkins and Halloween decorations can attract moose into neighborhoods during rutting season, raising the risk of dangerous encounters. Veterans’ Health: The Alaska VA’s Anchorage facility has launched a new electronic health record system, completing the VA’s 2026 rollout to 13 sites; the system has faced past technical and patient-safety concerns.

Senate Election Fight: The Justice Department is seeking to block certification of Alaska’s Senate results if Republican Dan Sullivan loses, citing possible confusion over two candidates with the same name. Democrat Mary Peltola has asked a judge to dismiss the suit, while Sen. Lisa Murkowski says DOJ should never have filed it. Campaign Update: Peltola and her family suffered minor injuries in a car crash, prompting her to postpone campaign stops. Voting Access: Reports say some rural Alaska voting sites have not opened, raising concerns about barriers for Alaska Native voters. Fishing Loans: The state’s 5.25% fixed-rate commercial fishing loan terms are set to expire in June 2027, when new rates and loan limits may be established.

Election Fight: The Justice Department is seeking to block Alaska from certifying its Senate race if Republican Dan Sullivan loses, citing possible voter confusion over a second candidate named Sullivan. Democrats are challenging the suit, while at least 18 rural early-voting sites—many serving Alaska Native communities—were reported unopened. Campaign Update: Democratic candidate Mary Peltola and her family suffered minor injuries in a car crash; she postponed campaign stops as she recovered. Alaska LNG: A former executive says sanctioned Russian energy giant Novatek secretly provided some funding to a company pursuing an Alaska gas project. Several U.S. executives have resigned amid questions about the financing. Public Safety: One person died in a fire at an Anchorage apartment building, adding to a week of reported fires in the city.

Alaska Senate Race: Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking to block certification if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses, citing possible confusion over a second candidate with the same name. President Trump said he ordered the suit; Mary Peltola and Sen. Lisa Murkowski have condemned it. Campaign Trail: Peltola and her family suffered minor injuries when another vehicle struck their car Saturday. She postponed stops in Fairbanks and Bethel while recovering. Anchorage Housing: A new $581,000 voucher program aims to help about 40 homeless families and individuals move into market-rate apartments next year. Fairbanks Data Centers: Borough Mayor Grier Hopkins proposed a temporary pause on large data centers while officials assess their demands on electricity, water and neighborhoods.

Alaska Senate Fight: Mary Peltola and Senate Democrats asked a federal judge to dismiss the Justice Department’s suit seeking to block certification if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses. Trump says he ordered the lawsuit over a second candidate named Dan Sullivan; Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski says it should never have been filed. Voting Access: An Alaska lawmaker warned that at least 18 advertised rural polling sites had not opened, while Alaska Native leaders are urging turnout amid longstanding barriers. Energy Scrutiny: A former CEO says Russia’s sanctioned Novatek secretly funded an Alaska gas project, raising questions about possible sanctions violations and Russian influence over North Slope development. Western Alaska Weather: A powerful storm brought wind and flooding, with outages and flight cancellations reported. High School Sports: South Anchorage beat West 14-6 to repeat as Division I football champion, the first team to win consecutive titles since 2001.

Election Fight: President Donald Trump says he ordered a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s Senate race if Republican Dan Sullivan loses, citing possible confusion with another candidate named Dan Sullivan. Mary Peltola’s campaign and Democrats are fighting the suit; Sen. Lisa Murkowski says DOJ should never have filed it. Voting Access: More than 31,000 Alaskans had voted early by Friday, but turnout lagged in predominantly Alaska Native districts. At least 18 villages reportedly lacked open in-person voting sites. Rural Alaska: A powerful Bering Sea storm brought wind and flooding to Western Alaska, with outages and flight cancellations reported as communities continue recovering from last year’s Typhoon Halong. Energy Project: Executives have resigned from the proposed $25 billion Alaska gas project amid allegations of secret Russian control, raising fresh questions about its financing. Cost of Living: Peltola says high fuel, food, housing and utility costs dominate voters’ concerns in her close Senate race with Sullivan.

Senate Election Fight: President Donald Trump says he ordered the Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking to block Alaska from certifying its Senate results if Republican Dan Sullivan loses. The suit cites possible voter confusion over a second candidate with the same name; legal experts question whether the department has grounds to intervene. Alaska Gas Project: Executives have resigned from a proposed $25 billion North Slope LNG venture after its former chief alleged Russian energy company Novatek secretly funded and steered the project before U.S. approval. The claims have not been independently established. Western Alaska Storm: A powerful Bering Sea storm brought damaging winds and flooding to Western Alaska, disrupting flights and threatening coastal communities. Halong Recovery: The Alaska Federation of Natives board passed a resolution supporting communities devastated by ex-typhoon Halong, calling for sustained government investment and a stronger tribal role in rebuilding. Consumer Safety: The Secret Service swept Anchorage businesses for card skimmers, warning that stolen card data can drain Alaskans’ money and SNAP benefits.

Election Fight: President Donald Trump says he ordered the Justice Department to sue Alaska over its U.S. Senate race. The suit seeks to block certification if Republican Dan Sullivan loses, arguing that another candidate with a similar name could confuse voters. Alaska’s Supreme Court has allowed Daniel J. Sullivan to remain on the ballot; the case could put state election rules and the closely watched race against Democrat Mary Peltola in a federal court battle. Western Alaska Storm: A powerful Bering Sea storm is bringing high winds, coastal flooding and blizzard conditions to parts of Western Alaska, renewing concerns for communities still recovering from destructive ex-typhoon Halong. Anchorage Fire: One person died after a fire engulfed units at a Midtown condominium complex. Rural Alaska: At the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage, attendees raised concerns about subsistence, declining salmon and rising costs. Energy: A new federal survey estimates nearly 96 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered natural gas on the North Slope, while the state has opened more than 8 million acres for potential oil and gas development.

Anchorage Fire: One person died in a fire at a Monticello Court apartment building. The cause is under investigation. Western Alaska Weather: A strong Bering Sea storm is forecast to bring winds up to 70 mph and coastal flooding, with Hooper Bay among the hardest-hit communities; another system could prolong high water through Sunday. AFN: At the Anchorage convention, speakers highlighted declining salmon and the mounting cost of living in rural communities. Sen. Lisa Murkowski condemned high fuel prices, saying they have burdened Alaskans for months. Election Watch: Alaska’s Senate contest is the state’s most expensive ever: Mary Peltola has raised $32 million, compared with Dan Sullivan’s $13 million. A judge also ruled that election officials wrongly put disqualified House candidate Jose Tagle on the ballot, though early and absentee ballots won’t be reprinted. Accountability: Former Anchorage business manager James Wohlers was sentenced to 58 months in prison for stealing at least $2.5 million from his employer and evading taxes. Food Support: Anchorage Restaurant Week runs through Oct. 29, with more than two dozen restaurants donating some proceeds to Food Bank of Alaska.

Anchorage Fire: Firefighters responded to a large blaze at a Midtown condominium complex Thursday; at least one unit was engulfed and others were damaged. Election: With Election Day nearing, Alaska candidates are making their final pitches at forums across the state as the closely watched Sullivan–Peltola Senate race draws national attention. Southeast Alaska: The governor declared a disaster in Ketchikan after a landslide damaged infrastructure. Energy & Infrastructure: Federal funding includes $38 million for Alaska energy projects and $249 million to complete the Port MacKenzie rail extension. A new U.S. Geological Survey assessment also points to substantial undiscovered natural gas on the North Slope. Kenai Peninsula: Borough officials adopted a permit process for weather-modification projects on borough land, following recent cloud seeding. Western Alaska Weather: Forecasters warned of a strong storm bringing possible blizzard conditions, flooding, high surf and damaging winds.

Ketchikan Disaster: Gov. Mike Dunleavy declared a state disaster after a landslide damaged the Ward Cove electric substation and other infrastructure. Repairs to the substation alone are estimated at $1.5 million. Western Alaska Storm: Forecasters warned of a powerful Bering Sea storm bringing high winds, heavy rain and snow, with coastal flooding possible. Energy & Infrastructure: Alaska will receive about $38 million in federal grants to strengthen power grids and help keep electricity affordable. A separate $249 million federal award will complete the Port MacKenzie rail extension, linking the port to the Alaska Railroad and supporting resource development. Election Watch: Early voting is drawing long lines across Alaska. Gov. Dunleavy declined to endorse a successor, urging voters to rank all three Republican gubernatorial candidates. Highway Safety: First responders say the remote Parks Highway crash site complicates emergency response after a head-on collision killed a Fairbanks couple; their toddler survived.

Anchorage: Copper thieves have cut wiring along city trails, leaving stretches of the Chester Creek Trail dark and raising safety concerns. Elections: More than 12,000 Alaskans voted on the first day of early voting. The governor’s race and a tight Senate contest are drawing attention as the Alaska Federation of Natives opens its 60th annual convention in Anchorage Thursday. Fuel Costs: Wrangell’s assembly is considering a four-month sales-tax waiver on home heating fuel as diesel prices climb; a state agency is also sending $25,000 relief checks to three villages. Infrastructure: A $249 million federal grant is reviving the stalled Port MacKenzie rail extension, while a new report warns the Alaska LNG project could cost far more than projected. Southeast: Ketchikan is recovering from a destructive landslide, with officials warning of possible power outages.

Alaska Elections: Nearly 12,000 Alaskans voted on the first day of early voting, with long lines reported across the state. Voters will also decide whether 21 judges, including a state Supreme Court justice, keep their seats. Severe Weather: High winds battered Southeast Alaska, prompting a disaster declaration in Ketchikan after landslides and flooding damaged infrastructure; forecasters warned of possible power outages. Snow brought slick roads to Fairbanks, with more winter weather forecast for Anchorage. Energy and Infrastructure: A major hurdle remains for Alaska LNG: the preliminary $44.5 billion to $54.5 billion cost estimate could double, with high construction costs flagged as the project’s biggest obstacle. Separately, a $249 million federal grant is set to revive the stalled Port MacKenzie rail extension. Travel: Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines plan new nonstop Seattle routes to Osaka and Tahiti in 2027.