Dark-money Alaska Center endorses Bill Hill over Matt Schulz, showing Democrat splintering

By SUZANNE DOWNING

June 28, 2026 – The Alaska Center, one of Alaska’s leading progressive advocacy organizations, has endorsed independent congressional candidate Bill Hill, giving him another high-profile boost from the state’s organized left and adding another wrinkle to an already unusual race for Alaska’s US House seat. The endorsement comes as Democrat Matt Schultz is also seeking to advance from Alaska’s all-candidate primary, creating an increasingly visible divide among left-leaning voters and political organizations.

The Alaska Center called Hill “the best candidate to win in November” and praised him as someone who would advance clean energy, protect salmon, and build what it described as a broad coalition capable of defeating Republican Congressman Nick Begich. The organization said Hill “puts Alaska values above party loyalty” and announced him as its sole endorsement in the race.

Arabella Advisors rebrands, shifts toxic dark-money operations to side entity

The endorsement is notable because The Alaska Center has long been one of the state’s most influential and monied leftist political organizations. According to the group’s disclosures, its largest funding sources have included the Sixteen Thirty Fund, League of Conservation Voters, and Tides Advocacy Fund. The Sixteen Thirty Fund has been widely identified as part of the Arabella Advisors network of nonprofit advocacy organizations, which was rebranded in 2025 as Sunflower Services. The Alaska Center advocates for ranked-choice voting, automatic voter registration, expanded vote-by-mail, renewable energy policies, higher minimum wages, and opposition to the federal SAVE Act’s proof-of-citizenship voter registration requirements.

Cult roots and dark-money ties: Inside the political machine behind the 907 Initiative

Hill’s endorsement portfolio increasingly resembles that of a traditional Democratic nominee, despite his decision to run as an independent. His campaign lists endorsements from House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, Reps. Calvin Schrage, Ky Holland, Maxine Dibert, Nellie Unangiq Jimmie, Rebecca Himschoot and Robyn Niayuq Frier, along with Sens. Donny Olson and Lyman Hoffman. He has also secured backing from the Alaska AFL-CIO, NEA-Alaska, Alaska Professional Fire Fighters, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1496, the Alaska Public Employees Association, End Citizens United, and now The Alaska Center.

Protecting salmon or driving politics? SalmonState unmasked

Meanwhile, Schultz remains the only Democrat in the race and has continued campaigning as the party’s standard-bearer. The competing candidacies have exposed a divide between many of the Democratic Party’s elected officials and institutional union allies, who have largely lined up behind Hill, and Democratic base voters who continue to support Schultz’s candidacy.

Hill has repeatedly emphasized his independence from both major parties. But he has declined to answer a question that could become increasingly important if he were elected: whether he would caucus with Democrats or Republicans in Congress. Asked directly by reporters, Hill has responded that he’ll “have to see,”  leaving the question unanswered.

The split mirrors a broader pattern emerging in Alaska Democratic politics this election cycle. In the governor’s race, former House Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, former Gov. Bill Walker, and former Sen. Tom Begich are competing for many of the same Democratic and left-leaning voters, creating an unusually competitive contest inside the party rather than the unified field Democrats have often presented in past statewide elections.

With Alaska’s jungle primary and ranked-choice voting system advancing the top four candidates regardless of party, the competition for endorsements has become increasingly important as candidates seek to distinguish themselves before the Aug. 18 primary.

A new ‘pop-up’ group with a familiar address sends out a glowing report card for City Hall

Dark money beat: The minimum wage campaign in 2024 was fueled by maximum DC dollars. Here’s how it went down

Breaking: New watchdog initiative exposes dark-money network targeting Alaska