By SUZANNE DOWNING
Downtown Anchorage Democratic Matt Schultz, who announced late last year that he would challenge Republican Congressman Nick Begich, is circulating a fundraising letter highlighting two endorsements he calls proof his campaign can win. The endorsers: former losing congressional candidates Alyse Galvin and Forrest Dunbar.
In the email to supporters, Schultz writes that Galvin and Dunbar “know how tough this race is, what it takes to win here, and what kind of candidate can actually deliver for Alaskans,” adding that their backing “sends a clear signal: Matt has what it takes to win.”
What the pitch leaves out is that both Galvin and Dunbar previously ran for Alaska’s at-large House seat and lost. Awkward.
Galvin, an independent aligned and caucusing with Democrats, ran twice for the seat and momentarily became a well-known figure in Alaska politics, but never prevailed in the general election. She is now in the legislature serving Anchorage midtown. Dunbar, now a Democratic state senator from Anchorage, also mounted a statewide congressional campaign and was defeated.
The endorsements are presented as validation from leaders “who’ve been in this fight,” with the campaign arguing that Schultz’s background gives him insight into rising costs, health care challenges, and community struggles.
Dunbar’s endorsement statement in the email says Alaska “currently lacks a Congressman who cares about the exploding cost of living,” and Galvin’s statement praises Schultz as someone who can bring people together around “common-sense priorities.”
Schultz’s campaign pitches the endorsements as momentum toward “flipping” the seat and urges supporters to donate to help “turn this momentum into victory.”
This week, Schultz announced he had raised $300,000 for his challenge for the seat, from over 2,000. Some $60,000 of that came from out of state.
His campaign says, “Schultz is consolidating support and building a broad coalition of Democrats, Independents and Republicans necessary to compete and win in 2026.” His campaign manager is Mai Linh McNicholas, who worked in the Biden White House and on the Biden for President campaign, another losing campaign for Alaska voters.
10 thoughts on “Democrat Schultz touts endorsements from two people who know exactly how to lose Alaska’s House race”
“Galvin and Dunbar “know how tough this race is, what it takes to win here, and what kind of candidate can actually deliver for Alaskans,””
Don’t make me laugh. These two losers sure know what it takes to win: Dunbar, the freak, and Galvin “I worked on a slime-line”.
It strikes me as odd that this candidate wouldn’t seek the endorsement of another Democrat…errr “independent” who recently ran for this seat as well, of course I am speaking of Al (the bear doctor) Gross. Surely the good bear doctor has some words of wisdom for his fellow Democrat…errr “independent”.
And he didnt ask out the advice of Chris Constant, who did so well in his own assembly district that he had to remove Palin’s’ shoe from his transverse colon
If he is going to spend the rest of the year campaigning for congress, he won’t be able to concentrate on his actual job as an Assembly droid. Probably not honorable enough to resign, like his boy Forest. Cheers –
$60’000 from out of state donations should not be allowed no matter what party he is representing. George Soros (and others) money is not welcome or good for any state. If they are ineligible to vote then their contributions should be ineligible as well.
Hear hear. I second the motion. If our legislature wasn’t so corrupt and self-serving, it would pass legislation that disallows any and all foreign (outside of AK) funds from being used in statewide campaigns. I am soooo weary of outsiders deciding our elections.
Is it time for a petition?
The only good that would come out of this campaign bid win or lose us it’ll retire him from the First Presbyterian Church downtown and they maybe can finally hire a new pastor. However likely no one less liberal than him. He never cared for those who entered that church how can he ever know how to care for the needs of all peoples of Alaska let alone bring them together while attendance at that church limps along and church office has to send out mailers begging for money.
If he was a pastor at Mountain City Church, the left would be screaming separation between church and state. What makes a liberal pastor so different to be running for office than a pastor with conservative and Republican principles?
Does Alaska Democrats really want our pastors to be running for office. They have started something here
Its (D)ifferent whenthey(D)o it.. Dont question, just obey