The Trail

Trump and Pence record robocalls in support of Dunleavy, campaign says

President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have recorded robocalls in support of Alaska's Republican candidate for governor, Mike Dunleavy, according to Dunleavy's campaign.

The calls started going out to Alaska voters Monday and will continue Tuesday — Election Day, said Brett Huber, Dunleavy's campaign manager.

"They picked Mike early on as someone they'd like to work with," Huber said.

Dunleavy, a former state senator from Wasilla, is facing Democratic candidate Mark Begich, a former U.S. senator and Anchorage mayor, in the race to become Alaska's next governor.

Huber said he didn't have a recording of the robocalls Monday evening. Daniel McDonald, a spokesman for the Dunleavy campaign, said he didn't have a transcript of the calls Monday.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Saturday that Trump had recorded calls for voters in a list of states ahead of the midterm elections: Nevada, Wisconsin, Florida, Michigan, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, California, Missouri, Montana and Iowa.

Trump tweeted his support for Dunleavy on Oct. 25. A few days later, Hillary Clinton tweeted her support for Begich.

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On Tuesday, Begich's campaign sent out an email blast with a note from former Vice President Joe Biden. Biden encouraged Alaskans to vote for Begich.

"Today, I'm not asking you for money, all I want is for you to get out and vote for my friend Mark Begich," the note said.

Polls will be open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

[Tuesday is Election Day. Here's a guide for Alaska voters.]

Tegan Hanlon

Tegan Hanlon was a reporter for the Anchorage Daily News between 2013 and 2019. She now reports for Alaska Public Media.

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