BATTLEGROUND ALASKA: The Senate Leadership Fund (SLF) just announced a $15 million buy in Alaska. Democrat Mary Peltola has raised $9 million challenging Sen. Dan Sullivan (R., Alaska). Sen. Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) called the Alaska Senate race the “last piece of the puzzle.” But while the campaigns fight for the airwaves, a separate war is already underway. A new watchdog initiative is exposing the foreign-linked dark money networks quietly working to kneecap Alaska’s resource economy — starting with SalmonState, a so-called grassroots fishing group that’s actually a politically focused and funded project of the Arabella Advisors network, a D.C. behemoth tied to Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss. Read the full story
BESSENT BULLISH ON PRIVATE CREDIT: Secretary Scott Bessent recently told CNBC that, despite the press’s concerns about the private credit market, “none of our work has shown that there would be a systemic problem.” Bessent’s statement is more evidence that the private credit challenges are far removed from past systemic risks like mortgage-backed securities. And the sharp increase in securities of firms with extensive private credit holdings show that the market likely agrees. Read more here
“WIDE OPEN” RACE IN CONNECTICUT: Former Navy SEAL Chris Shea, who is challenging Rep. Jahana Hayes (D., Ct.), outraised his Democratic opponent this past fundraising quarter. “Chris Shea outraising Jahana Hayes isn’t a fundraising story,” Kiera Murphy, a strategist for Shea, noted. “It’s a vulnerability story. Political outsiders don’t outraise an incumbent unless voters are ready for a change. The numbers make it clear: Jahana Hayes’ far-left politics are out of step with this district, and voters are moving toward a candidate they trust — Chris Shea. This race is wide open.”
WOMEN ON THE HILL: Winning for Women Action Fund hosted Laurie Buckhout, who is challenging Rep. Don Davis (D., N.C.) and Alex Mealer, who is President Donald Trump’s pick to win an open seat in Texas, this week. “Winning For Women Action Fund is proud to be supporting so many great women this cycle,” WFW AF Executive Director Meredith Allen Dellinger told the Washington Reporter. “From helping them emerge through their primaries to staying in the fight with them during the general election, we are committed to bringing more exceptional conservative leaders to Congress.” WFW AF held a similar meet and greet last week for Jessica Steinmann, Jenny Costa Honeycutt, and Tricia Pridemore.
JAMES IN THE LEAD: Rep. John James (R., Mich.) is leading the crowded GOP field in the race for Michigan’s open Senate seat, according to a new poll from On Message, Inc. James leads with 41 percent, with wealthy businessman Perry Johnson coming in a distant second. Johnson, however, has flooded Michigan airwaves in recent weeks.
REPEAL AND DON’T REPLACE: Sen. Rick Scott (R., Fla.) introduced legislation to repudiate the 2019 impeachment of President Donald Trump, following another bombshell declassification from Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard. Trump clearly appreciates Scott’s move; he posted on Truth Social that “hopefully, Justice will finally prevail!!!”
AD WARS: Nathan Butterfield, one of the leading candidates to succeed Rep. Kevin Hern (R., Okla.), already released his first ad, touting his pro-Trump bona fides and his business background.
DRONE INCOMING: Saildrone, one of the most experienced operators of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), released the design of the Saildrone Spectre, culminating two years of intense design work, leveraging over 10 years of operational USV experience.
INTERVIEW INCOMING: The Washington Reporter’s Matthew Foldi did the last interview that Lori Chavez-DeRemer did as Labor Secretary. Stay tuned!
