Conservative group spends $200,000 to back Democrat in Toksook Bay

A conservative political group has poured more than $200,000 into legislative advertising across Alaska, with a portion of that money supporting an incumbent Democrat in a tight Western Alaska race. Families of the Last Frontier, an independent expenditure group, filed disclosure paperwork in mid-October detailing the spending. The filings show the group is backing Rep. Nellie Unangiq Jimmie, a Democrat from Toksook Bay, in her general election bid.

Jimmie faces former legislator CJ McCormick, a Democrat from Bethel, in a rematch. The two candidates were separated by just 50 votes in the August primary. This is the closest race for an Alaska House seat this year. The general election ballot also lists perennial Republican Willy Keppel and independent Joseph Amik. Amik recently suspended his campaign and posted a video urging voters to rank Jimmie first on their ballots.

Steve Strait, chair of Families of the Last Frontier, explained the group's strategy in a text message. He stated that the group supports candidates in various races because it believes in good government. Strait declined to provide specific policy reasons for backing Jimmie, noting that independent expenditure groups cannot coordinate directly with campaigns.

The group sent a digital mailer to voters in the district. The piece warned that voters cannot trust McCormick. It described him as a progressive Democrat with urban friends who does not represent the Lower Kuskokwim region. The mailer urged voters to extend the life of their ballots by ranking Jimmie as their second choice if they were not already voting for her.

Jimmie, who serves on the House Finance Committee, credited her willingness to caucus with either party for securing that committee seat. The current state House has a slim one-seat majority. Jimmie wrote that she fought for her committee position by being open to joining the Republican minority caucus. She said mailers from any side are useful for starting fires in the region until a real energy solution is found.

McCormick speculated that the Republican group supports Jimmie because of their differing positions on the Donlin Gold mine. McCormick has long opposed the mine. Jimmie was neutral on the project in 2024 but recently changed her stance to opposition, according to the Alaska Beacon. McCormick also pointed to their views on commercial trawling as a possible factor.

McCormick has called for a ban on trawling in Alaska state waters, arguing it conflicts with subsistence fishing. Jimmie supports banning international and out-of-state trawling while allowing Alaska-based trawling under strong regulations. In August, Jimmie received donations from the political arm of the Alaska Miners Association and the Pacific Seafood Processors Association PAC.