Peltola campaign payroll reveals sprawling staff, Door Dash orders, and Mary pays herself to run

By SUZANNE DOWNING

July 2, 2026 – New York Sen. Chuck Schumer said he’d come through with the cash to beat Sen. Dan Sullivan, and he must have. Mary Peltola’s campaign for the US Senate has assembled what is likely the largest paid political organizations ever seen in an Alaska federal race, with a payroll that includes campaign managers, communications specialists, digital strategists, fundraisers, researchers, field organizers, and administrative staff. There are 21 staffers in her last campaign report. That’s one staffer for every 28,000 Alaska voters.

Federal Election Commission records for Peltola’s campaign committee, Alaskans for Mary, show salary payments to a large roster of campaign employees as the Democrat mounts what is expected to be one of the nation’s most expensive Senate contests per capita. The campaign raised approximately $8.9 million during the first quarter of 2026, giving it the resources to build an extensive professional operation.

The campaign’s payroll includes Deputy Campaign Manager Jeremy Frazee; veteran Democratic operative Elisa Devlin and campaign spokesman Harry Child, who was last in Montana working for John Tester.. Also on staff are former congressional staff members Lauren Noland and Bryce Cluff; digital staffers Jacob Springer and Colton Colglazier; fundraiser Sierra Wicks; campaign employees Evan Farley, Caroline Etgen, Benjamin Bade, Maggie Calica, Kelly Dodd, Jacob Fette, Cheryl Bruce, Austin Welch, Daniella Tebib, and Nash Linsley, along with additional staff supporting communications, finance, research, field operations, voter outreach, and campaign logistics. Hardly any are Alaskans.

Among the highest-paid employees during the reporting period were Evan Farley, who received approximately $9,500, along with Caroline Etgen and Benjamin Bade, who each received roughly $8,000 in salary.

The campaign finance report also shows that Peltola herself is compensated by her campaign committee. According to the March 31 filing, Alaskans for Mary paid Mary Peltola a salary over $5,500 a month.

Federal election law allows candidates to receive compensation from their campaign committees under specified Federal Election Commission rules. While the practice is legal, relatively few federal candidates choose to place themselves on their campaign payrolls.

There are also 43 Door Dash orders for the campaign that show on the in last report. The next report is due July 15.

Several members of Peltola’s staff have extensive backgrounds in Democratic politics. Devlin was a senior strategist during Peltola’s congressional campaigns. Harry Child serves as the campaign’s public spokesman. Lauren Noland previously worked for Peltola in Congress. Bryce Cluff also worked in Peltola’s congressional office before joining the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Colton Colglazier has worked with Which Side Digital, a Democrat political consulting firm, while Sierra Wicks brings fundraising experience from Democratic political campaigns outside Alaska. It’s clear the national DNC sent their big guns to go and work for Peltola.

Three different digital marketing firms received about $500,000 apiece.

The extensive payroll illustrates the scale of Peltola’s campaign organization as Sen. Chuck Schumer and the Democrats target Alaska’s Senate seat. With millions of dollars already raised and outside spending expected to increase as the election approaches, the race is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched Senate contests in the country.

Readers may recall that last year, when Peltola had her House reelection account open even after losing her seat in Congress, she used that House campaign account open for extensive travel, spending lots of money on hotels, fancy restaurants, and flights to DC and beyond. See story here:

Breaking: NRSC files major complaint against Peltola for personal use of campaign funds

Mary Peltola spending campaign cash as fast as she raises it