What, if anything, needs to change about how candidates and elections are funded?
Governor
Bill Walker
Nonpartisan candidate for Governor
There’s too much money in politics. We’re committed to restoring reasonable limits on how much candidates and groups can spend in the effort to influence the outcome of Alaska’s elections. House Bill 234, a proposal from Rep. Calvin Schrage that narrowly failed to pass earlier this year, provides a good starting point for work on this issue next year.
Charlie Pierce
Republican candidate for Governor
There needs to be a spending cap established for campaigns. I propose looking to the last election expenditures for a baseline. Identify the highest and lowest totals spent by campaigns for each office, and then set the median as the next election’s spending cap. People want to know where all the “dark money” is coming from; let’s start by limiting how much can be spent.
(Editor’s note: The U.S. Supreme Court has consistently invalidated campaign spending limits.)
Les Gara
Democratic candidate for Governor
I believe in campaign donation limits, and have voted for them. Gov. Dunleavy admits he believes outsiders should be able to donate as much as they want with no dollar limits, and purposely chose not to appeal a ruling against our voter initiative-passed $500 donation limit. Because of him, we are one of two states that allows unlimited campaign donations, and that is terrible policy.
Mike Dunleavy
Republican candidate for Governor
Campaign funding rules are the responsibility of the Legislature, and I’ll work with members to ensure we have transparency in the process, in line with precedents and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that First Amendment rights to speech and assembly apply to campaign donations, and I believe every American can exercise those rights as long as the contributions are disclosed.