Independent candidate Alyse Galvin is leading incumbent Republican Don Young in campaign fundraising, according to reports filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission.
The reports are another sign that the race between the two has become increasingly close as Election Day approaches. If Galvin were to defeat Young, it would be a colossal upset: Young is the longest-serving active member of the U.S. House of Representatives and has won every one of his elections since 1973.
According to Tuesday’s filings, which cover campaign contributions through Sept. 30, Galvin has raised $1.18 million. Young, meanwhile, has raised $1.02 million.
Young holds an advantage in cash on hand, thanks in part to financial reserves built before the current campaign: Galvin has spent $906,117, leaving her with $274,505; Young has spent $1,017,365, leaving him with $312,351.
About half of Young’s fundraising total has come from individual contributions; the remainder has come from political organizations. About 98 percent of Galvin’s fundraising total has come from individuals.
Galvin’s campaign trumpeted Tuesday’s financial reports and offered a comparison to Young’s last two Democratic challengers.
“At this point in the race, the most recent challengers to Rep. Young — Forrest Dunbar and Steve Lindbeck — had only raised $159,351.86 and $770,997.76 respectively, according to the Federal Election Commission,” the campaign wrote in a prepared statement.
Galvin’s campaign has already raised more than Lindbeck did during his entire 2016 election effort, and her campaign said it is on pace to raise more money than Ethan Berkowitz did in 2008.
Berkowitz lost to Young by 5 points in that election but came closer than any challenger since 1992.
Galvin’s fundraising support may indicate an unusual level of support for someone challenging Young. Polls offer additional evidence: Late last week, a survey of likely voters by Public Policy Polling found Young leading Galvin 46 percent to 43 percent, with 10 percent of respondents undecided.
That poll followed one Oct. 9 from Alaska Survey Research, which showed Galvin 3.7 points behind young.
The analytics website FiveThirtyEight calls Public Policy Polling a Democratic-leaning firm and expects Young’s lead in that poll is likely closer to 5 points.
• Contact reporter James Brooks at jbrooks@juneauempire.com or 523-2258.
