June 8, 2021

PHILADELPHIA — This morning, Politico reported a new poll of the potential field in the 2022 race for U.S. Senate in Alaska. The polling, conducted by Change Research and paid for by 314 Action Fund, found that Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s weakness in the race poses an enormous opportunity for a Democratic challenger to win in Alaska.

Via Politico:

Sen. Lisa Murkowski faces a tough path to reelection next year under the state’s new ranked-choice voting system, according to a poll conducted last month for the Democratic group 314 Action, James writes in. Murkowski starts the race in third place, behind her Republican challenger and a Democratic candidate.

Republican Kelly Tshibaka receives 39 percent of the vote in a four-way race, followed by Al Gross at 25 percent and Murkowski at 19 percent (Gross, an independent, was backed by Democrats and endorsed by 314 Action in his losing 2020 campaign. He has not announced a 2020 run but has said he’s considering the race). After proceeding through the ranked-choice process, Tshibaka leads Gross, 54 percent to 46 percent. (Change Research polled 1,023 likely voters May 22-25; +/- 4 percentage points)

In 2020, 314 Action Fund’s independent expenditure program mobilized heavily and invested nearly $2.5 million in the Alaska U.S. Senate race. 314 Action Fund raised over $54,000 in grassroots donations for Dr. Gross’s campaign. They are keeping a close eye on this race as the cycle progresses.

In 2022, 314 Action Fund will aim to spend $50 million to elect scientists across all levels of government, with initial targets of seven U.S. Senate races, forty U.S. House races, and twenty-one statewide races. In 2020, the organization spent $25 million on behalf of its endorsed candidates and raised a total of $5 million in grassroots donations for scientists running for office.

###

314 Action Fund is powered by a grassroots community of over six million people working to elect scientists, doctors, and STEM professionals who will use science and facts to address our most pressing issues like climate change and health care. In 2018 and 2020, we played a pivotal role in flipping the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, electing eleven Democratic scientists to federal office, as well as over 100 to state and local offices. In 2021 and 2022, 314 Action Fund will continue working to elect science leaders and defeat climate deniers in Congress and legislatures across the country.