DLCC raising money to flip ‘battleground’ Alaska, but Democrats already control Legislature through bipartisan coalitions

By SUZANNE DOWNING

March 29, 2026 – The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is now targeting Alaska as a “battleground state” in its 2026 effort to flip legislative chambers from red to blue — even as it’s clear that Democrats already effectively control both bodies through crossover coalitions. The state was added to the battleground list by the group trying to flip control in February of 2025, and they’re raising money to take on vulnerable House and Senate members this year.

In a fundraising email circulating this week, the DLCC included Alaska on its 2026 “Target Map,” categorizing states into three tiers: Democratic majorities to defend, “powerbuild” states for long-term gains, and battleground states where control of legislative chambers is competitive. Alaska appears in the battleground category, signaling national Democratic interest in flipping formal majorities.

But the designation has raised concern in Alaska, where Republicans technically hold numerical majorities in both the House and Senate, yet governing coalitions are led by Democrats and allied independents.

The Alaska House is currently controlled by a Democrat-led bipartisan majority that includes Democrats, independents, and several Republicans who chose to caucus with them. The Senate operates similarly, with a bipartisan coalition dominated by Democrats and crossover members running the chamber despite Republican numerical strength.

That dynamic has led to conclusions that Alaska is already effectively “blue,” regardless of party registration totals.

The DLCC’s “this cycle” messaging refers to a string of special-election and off-year wins nationwide as evidence of momentum. Democrats have flipped roughly 30 Republican-held state legislative seats since early 2025, while Republicans have not flipped any Democratic-held seats during the same period.

The DLCC strategy focuses on building power in targeted states ahead of November 2026, when roughly 650 legislative seats across 42 chambers are in play. Republicans still hold more chambers nationwide, but Democrats are concentrating resources in competitive states, including Alaska.

In Alaska, however, the political battlefield may be less about flipping seats and more about formalizing control that already exists in practice. In Alaska’s Legislature the policy direction is now clearly Democrat, even though voters elected more Republicans overall.

Yet, Alaska’s unusual coalition politics are now drawing attention from national groups looking to reshape the state Legislature.