In Alaska’s primary on Tuesday, not all ads may be as they seem. Don’t assume that all of the commercials boosting Republican candidates are backed by the G.O.P. or that spots promoting Democrats are backed by Democratic money.
That’s because the ascendant trend of election meddling — in which partisans try to shape the outcome by boosting a fringe candidate, or one seen as less formidable, from the other party in hopes of elevating a likely loser into the general election — appears to have gone into overdrive in the 49th state. And Alaska’s unique primary, in which the top four candidates advance to the general election, has added another dimension to the ad wars.
About $800,000 has been spent in the last few weeks by the super PAC Fair Deal Alaska to not only attack the leading Democratic candidate, Mary Peltola, but also boost two lesser-known hopefuls, the Green Party candidate Richard Grayson (who lives in Arizona) and Carol Hafner, another Democrat who could pull votes away from Ms. Peltola. That could benefit the Republican incumbent, Senator Dan Sullivan. Fair Deal Alaska formed just late last month, meaning its donors have not yet been disclosed.
Not to be outdone, another $2.2 million has come from a super PAC called Right for Alaska to oppose Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan and also boost long-shot candidates, Alaskan Party member Earl Southworth and Republican Jerry Heikes, both of whom could pull votes from Mr. Sullivan.
And then over the final two weeks, another $300,000 has been spent by the American Democracy Project, a third super PAC, to support David Leslie, a Democrat.
The groups did not respond to requests for comment.
Some of the hangers-on have voiced surprise in media interviews that there are apparently well-funded super PACs spending on their behalf.
Alaska’s newish primary system, in which the top four candidates advance from Tuesday’s primary into the general election, makes the state especially ripe for subterfuge. Aside from the surge in super PAC spending, there have been accusations that one candidate — a different Dan Sullivan — is a plant meant to siphon support from the incumbent.
Alaska also uses ranked-choice voting in the general election as part of its new system.
In a close race, as the matchup between Ms. Peltola and Mr. Sullivan (the sitting senator) is expected to be, the partisan leanings of which candidates take the other two general spots could shape whether Republicans or Democrats control the seat — and perhaps the U.S. Senate itself.
