Iris Samuels

With just a few days before primary election day, U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was campaigning less than half the time and Trump-backed candidate Kelly Tshibaka called the primary “a mile marker.”

Congressional candidate Sarah Palin held a tele-rally with former President Donald Trump on Monday, the same day Trump said his Mar-A-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida was searched by the FBI.

Mary Peltola would be the first Alaska Native in Congress. Nick Begich III would follow in the footsteps of his grandfather. During a day in Kenai, they reveal insights on what motivates their bids.

When opponents Nick Begich and Mary Peltola met for a candidate forum in Kenai, Sarah Palin held a fundraiser in Minneapolis, and later spoke in Dallas at CPAC. Still, despite her absence, Peltola and Begich recognize that Palin is a formidable opponent.

The bill, which became law this week, raises pay for state attorneys, court employees and other state workers, including staffers in the governor’s office and Legislature.

The measure faces an uncertain future in the Senate, and comes as abortion becomes a key issue in Murkowski’s reelection campaign.

In-person early voting kicked off Monday ahead of the regular pick-one primary election and the special U.S. House election, which will be determined by ranked-choice voting.

A large and emotional crowd celebrated the signing of the tribal recognition bill, which Bethel state Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky said is “a statutory recognition of a simple truth — that tribes exist in Alaska.”

Republican incumbent Gov. Mike Dunleavy and independent candidate Bill Walker received six-figure contributions from wealthy supporters after limits on campaign fundraising were lifted this year.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski had $6 million in the bank with four months to go before the election. Trump-backed Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka had $1 million.

As the state’s first ranked choice election draws near, voters and political strategists are wondering about the advantages of ranking more than one candidate.

Sunday is the deadline to register to vote in Alaska’s ranked choice election.

“I’m here for two reasons: to support great candidates and to fulfill my promise to Alaska,” Trump said in Anchorage, referring to his vow to campaign against incumbent Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who voted to impeach him.

The crowd heard from U.S. House candidate Sarah Palin and U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka ahead of an appearance by the former president at the Alaska Airlines Center.

Lisa Murkowski sets herself apart in the U.S. Senate as one of few Republicans openly supporting abortion access — and she is the only one facing reelection this year.