AGP Executive Report

Midterm Politics: With Labor Day kicking off the campaign sprint, a Reuters/Ipsos snapshot shows Trump’s approval at an all-time low, putting GOP control of Congress at risk as Democrats push to retake the House and Senate races stay razor-close. Billionaire Spending in Battlegrounds: Elon Musk’s America PAC is pouring money into key Senate contests, including a reported $91,459 push in New Hampshire aimed at John Sununu, underscoring how outside cash is shaping the midterm fight. FCC & “Fake Polls” Clash: FCC Chair Brendan Carr signaled possible guidance targeting broadcast networks over “fake polls” ahead of November, arguing stations operate under public-interest obligations tied to FCC licenses. Alaska Energy Rule: The BLM proposed a faster 60-day review for certain North Slope oil and gas sites within 25 miles of existing infrastructure, potentially shrinking project-by-project public input. Arctic Military/Defense: USS Lincoln’s crew is heading home after a record-breaking deployment, keeping Alaska’s defense community in the spotlight. North America Trade Politics: Canada tariffs are becoming a campaign issue for Republicans, with Maine Sen. Susan Collins warning the trade fight could hurt her re-election prospects.

Alaska Native Health: The federal government transferred ownership of the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, a decades-long push that keeps the hospital at the center of tribal healthcare. U.S. Defense & Arctic Tech: The Defense Innovation Unit says a quantum-sensor navigation test flew a route over the Pacific to southern Alaska and back without GPS, a potential boost for Arctic and maritime operations. Alaska Politics & Elections: A new Cook Political Report snapshot puts Alaska among Senate races now considered toss-ups or leaning, tightening the midterm map for Republicans. Midterms Money: Reports say Trump’s MAGA super PAC is preparing major spending—hundreds of millions—to help GOP candidates, with Alaska on the campaign trail list. Local Culture: Juneau is set to stage what’s billed as the first Tlingit opera in recorded history, bringing 1800s Tlingit-Russian battles to the stage. Roadless Rule Fight: An Alaska opinion piece argues the Roadless Area Conservation Rule must not be rolled back, warning of major impacts to the Tongass.

Alaska Politics & Governance: Alaska’s education debate heats up as borough leaders ask for clearer testing expectations for public correspondence students, including whether allotments should hinge on participation in AK STAR—only about 13% statewide take the assessment. Public Safety & Courts: Fairbanks police and Alaska State Troopers were found legally justified in the June 28 Bentley Mall shooting death of Brandon Roberts, who fled, ignored commands, and drew a handgun. Elections & Campaigns: A bipartisan group is recruiting Alaska volunteers to mail handwritten postcards aimed at boosting pro-democracy turnout ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms. Local Community: Fairbanks will hold its 42nd annual Labor Day Parade on Monday, with unions and labor leaders marching from Noel Wien Library to Alaskaland. National Politics: The Cook Political Report says GOP-held Senate seats in places including Alaska have shifted into toss-up territory, tightening the midterm fight. International & Energy: Iran warns of a “more painful response” after U.S. strikes hit three Iranian oil tankers near Kharg Island, as sanctions and oil-flow risks keep pressure on the region.

Alaska Elections: Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom reversed course and restored gubernatorial candidate Treg Taylor to Alaska’s November ballot after an earlier disqualification tied to financial-disclosure timing, while also bringing back Jose Tagle. Anchorage Governance: Longtime Anchorage Assembly member Dick Traini, who served nearly 19 years and chaired the body multiple times, died at 77. Judicial Accountability: The Alaska Judicial Council issued a mixed performance evaluation for Juneau Superior Court Judge Marianna Carpeneti, an apparent first for a retention review. Federal Policy & Environment: A report says U.S. Fish and Wildlife staffing has fallen sharply in Alaska and across the West, raising concerns about capacity. Public Safety: Anchorage police say a motorcyclist died in a Government Hill hit-and-run; investigators are seeking the driver. Defense & Energy (National/Global): The U.S. struck three Iranian oil tankers after IRGC ballistic missile attacks on U.S. Navy ships, with Iran warning of intensified retaliation. Travel Costs: AAA says Labor Day gas prices are on track for a record, with Alaska near or above $4.90. Airline Consumer Watch: DOT finalized a rule creating a new category for certain airline disruptions that may reduce passenger compensation protections.

U.S.-Iran Tensions: Central Command says U.S. forces struck three Iranian oil tankers, including one off Kharg Island, after Iran’s IRGC launched ballistic missiles at two U.S. Navy ships—raising fears of further escalation and possible disruption to global energy flows. Alaska Elections & Ethics: Alaska’s Public Offices Commission fight over financial disclosure flared again as Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom reinstated Treg Taylor’s governor candidacy after a Department of Law review. Local Public Safety: Anchorage police report a fatal Government Hill hit-and-run involving a Jeep Cherokee and a motorcycle; investigators are asking for witness tips. Anchorage Budget: Mayor Suzanne LaFrance warns the city faces “difficult decisions” as the 2027 budget cycle approaches amid maintenance and revenue constraints. Wildlife & Science: A UAF Fairbanks researcher says extreme solar storms could hit satellites and power grids harder than previously estimated. Ketchikan Planning: The Ketchikan Borough Assembly is set to consider moving ahead with a Herring Cove neighborhood plan, with city council also discussing FY2028 priorities. Federal Workforce: A report says U.S. Fish and Wildlife staffing has fallen sharply, including major losses in Alaska.

Alaska Governor’s Race: Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom reversed course late Friday and reinstated AG Treg Taylor onto the November ballot after a finance-disclosure dispute, keeping Alaska’s GOP primary shakeups in play. Courts & Voting Rights: The Alaska Court of Appeals tossed a Whittier woman’s felony voter misconduct indictment, saying prosecutors used the wrong legal standard and misled a grand jury—an outcome that could ripple through similar cases tied to American Samoan residents. Public Safety: Prosecutors cleared officers and a trooper in a June 28 Fairbanks shooting after body-camera footage showed the victim pointing a handgun before deadly force. Energy & Environment: The Trump administration moved to streamline Arctic oil permitting by exempting certain NPR-A projects from individual environmental reviews, aiming for faster approvals. Tribal Health: Federal officials transferred ownership of Alaska Native Medical Center to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, a major step toward tribal control of healthcare. Arctic Governance: Inuit leaders announced Nome will host the 2030 Inuit Circumpolar Council General Assembly. Aviation: Security Aviation identified pilots killed in a Southwest Alaska crash near a radar site. Federal Workforce: A report says U.S. Fish and Wildlife staffing fell sharply, including major losses in Alaska. Politics & Travel: Trump’s campaign travel plans include Alaska, while GOP leaders debate how much to lean on him heading into midterms.

Alaska Politics & Governance: Juneau’s Assembly is weighing whether to keep Parks and Recreation facilities under city control or bring in third-party management, with staff warning about capital costs and the risk of losing public access and affordability. Elections & Courts: A Washington, D.C.-based group tied to Stephen Miller is suing Alaska’s judge-nominating body over records delays, arguing the process amounts to illegal discrimination. Public Safety: Fairbanks North Star Borough Schools rolled out a new threat assessment and management framework with the DA’s office, juvenile justice, and troopers to coordinate prevention and response. Transportation: DOT launched a public survey on College Road in Fairbanks, asking residents whether the corridor should be re-striped as a two-lane road with a center turn lane and shoulders to cut crashes. Labor & Economy: A Labor Day op-ed argues Alaska workers are facing a cost crunch while union support hits record levels nationwide. Federal Watch: The NTIA says states may get another round of broadband grant proposals to reach newly identified unserved locations, including in Alaska. Business & Industry: Overseas Shipholding Group and Alaska Tanker Company are appealing NLRB rulings in the MM&P deck-officer bargaining dispute. National Politics: Elon Musk’s America PAC reported about $800,000 in midterm spending, including Alaska Senate support.

Alaska Politics & Courts: Anchorage Rep. Andrew Gray asked acting AG Cori Mills to prosecute former AG Treg Taylor and his wife, Jodi Taylor, over alleged campaign financial-report violations after Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom ruled Treg Taylor ineligible. Elections Watch: A new analysis says a Democrat could be headed for the Alaska governor’s mansion after Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins surged in the open primary amid a fractured GOP field. Judicial Retention: The Alaska Judicial Council recommended Alaskans vote “no” on retaining two Kenai judges, marking a rare move against retention. Public Safety & Privacy: The Anchorage Assembly approved nearly $600K to expand the police real-time crime center, with debate over privacy protections. Infrastructure & Environment: Alaska began building a 2.8-mile road segment leading to the Izembek refuge wilderness area, drawing fresh opposition from conservation groups. Health: State data shows Alaska youth suicide deaths hit a 10-year high, with attempts rising over the past decade.

Arctic Readiness: U.S. Army Green Berets staged a rapid insertion on St. Lawrence Island during Operation Polar Dagger 2026, using a CH-47 Chinook to show special-operations mobility across remote Alaska for homeland defense. Climate & Water Impacts: Yukon First Nations are stepping up monitoring after rivers and streams turn orange and acidic as permafrost thaws, with land guardians and researchers tracking changes in places like Tombstone Territorial Park. Public Health: CDC data highlights suicide as a major national crisis, with Alaska Native and other high-risk groups named among those facing elevated rates; help is available via 988. Elections & Alaska Politics: President Trump says he’ll campaign in Alaska to back Sen. Dan Sullivan in the final stretch, attacking the other “Dan Sullivan” in the race as Democrats push to hold the seat. Local Governance: Ketchikan City Council will weigh wastewater disinfection upgrades tied to a new EPA permit, plus capital priorities for 2028. Military Ceremony: The Navy plans to commission the future USS Ted Stevens in Whittier on Oct. 3. Earthquake Update: A magnitude 6.3 quake struck the central Aleutians near Nikolski; tsunami warnings were not issued.

Alaska LNG & Pipelines: President Trump told reporters South Korea and Japan are “going to Alaska to load up with oil” and help build pipelines, tying the pitch directly to Sen. Dan Sullivan’s reelection and the administration’s push for LNG exports to Asia. Midterm Campaign Push: Trump also vowed to campaign in about 35 races in the final stretch, including a planned Alaska trip for Sullivan, as Republicans try to defend narrow House and Senate control. Federal Health IT Oversight: In Washington, lawmakers pressed the VA over a near-tripling of the Oracle electronic health record contract ceiling to roughly $27B, asking why costs could rise and what taxpayers will ultimately pay. Public Safety & Accountability: A former Bethel judge resigned as Alaska’s top public defender, with reporting raising questions about the circumstances and allegations tied to his departure. Military Energy Planning: At a Fairbanks forum, officials discussed nuclear microreactors for Alaska bases, including an Air Force reactor at Eielson with construction planned for 2028 and possible operation by 2030. Telecom Expansion: GCI told the FCC it can extend hybrid fiber-cellular service to 10,000 more Alaskans thanks to broadband upgrades. Local Governance: Kenai Peninsula voters will consider term limits for school board members, a long-running debate that has now cleared a new ballot path.

Alaska Politics: Tom Begich has withdrawn from Alaska’s governor’s race, endorsing Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and leaving Kreiss-Tomkins as the only Democrat on the November ballot—an effort to consolidate party resources after a crowded Aug. 18 primary. Federal & State Government: The U.S. DOT is inviting bids for essential air service at four Alaska airports (Angoon, Elfin Cove, Pelican, Tenakee Springs) for a new term starting Feb. 1, 2027. Public Safety & Health: Fairbanks held an #EndOverDose walk to mark International Overdose Awareness Day, citing Alaska’s fentanyl-driven overdose toll and recent declines. Transportation & Infrastructure: Federal and state officials announced $410M+ for the Alaska Marine Highway System, including operations, a LeConte replacement vessel design, and terminal upgrades. Environment & Wildlife: Alaska’s Board of Game is considering major hunting and trapping restrictions tied to the controversial Ambler Road proposal in the Brooks Range. Local Governance: The Fairbanks North Star Borough approved a zero-dollar lease for land in Salcha to American Legion Post 99 to support planning for a future veterans cemetery facility. Defense & Military: The Navy set the Oct. 3 commissioning of USS Ted Stevens in Whittier.

Alaska Election Shakeups: Alaska’s primary is certified and the November ballot is getting reshaped fast: Tom Begich drops out to back Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, while Treg Taylor is disqualified and his running mate Candi English moves up with Jodi Taylor as lieutenant governor; the U.S. Senate field also shifts as David Leslie withdraws, moving Gerald Heikes onto the ballot. Legislative Power Check: Coverage suggests Alaska’s coalition majorities in the House and Senate are likely to hold after the primary, with leadership continuity in key Senate roles even as some retirements loom. Education & Courts: A lawsuit trying to stop Anchorage School District’s Campbell STEM closure has been dismissed. Environment & Subsistence: A tribal suit alleges an Alaska logging plan would violate conservation laws and threaten subsistence hunting in the Tongass. Fisheries Watch: Environmental groups say gray whale protections are being mishandled as the Eastern North Pacific population has fallen sharply, and they’re preparing to sue NOAA. Defense & Infrastructure: A major U.S. Department of War civil engineering contract includes work in Alaska, and Austal USA begins construction on the Coast Guard’s next offshore patrol cutter.

FTC/A.G. Amazon Lawsuit: Acting A.G. Cori Mills joined the FTC and 22 states in suing Amazon over alleged “invented auction” tactics that inflated ad prices for advertisers, with Alaska businesses and consumers potentially paying the fallout. Alaska U.S. Senate Politics: Mary Peltola campaigned in Ketchikan, pushing back on attack ads and emphasizing volunteer momentum as the race shifts. Ballot Shakeup in Alaska Governor’s Race: Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom said Treg Taylor won’t be certified for governor after an Alaska Public Offices Commission ruling on financial disclosure compliance, reshaping the November field. Local Governance/Defense Communities: Kodiak Borough joined the Association of Defense Communities, aiming to strengthen ties with other military and Coast Guard communities as Alaska’s defense role grows. Public Safety: A Kodiak jury convicted New York man Malik Johnson of defrauding a Kodiak woman out of $48,000 via impersonation scam calls; sentencing is set for Dec. 15. Community Health: The RAM Clinic in East Ridge High School served nearly 300 patients with over $250,000 in free care, including new limited dentures.

Alaska Governor Race Shakeup: Tom Begich withdrew from the Nov. ballot and endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, leaving Kreiss-Tomkins as the only Democrat in the governor field after the Aug. 18 primary and the final withdrawal deadline. Ballot Access Fight: Former AG Treg Taylor was disqualified after Alaska’s campaign finance watchdog found he failed to fully disclose tenant names tied to his Anchorage property; his running mate Candice English moved up and selected Taylor’s wife, Jodi Taylor, as her new running mate. U.S. Senate Update: Dan J. Sullivan says he will stay on the ballot after a third-place primary finish and a prior disqualification that was overturned by the Alaska Supreme Court. Critical Minerals & Defense: Nova Minerals briefed U.S. Energy officials in Fairbanks on an Alaska antimony plan aimed at military-grade production, with a $43.4 million federal award funding phase one and possible DoE support for power infrastructure. Anchorage Policing Tech: The Anchorage Assembly is set to debate new limits on police surveillance technology, as APD and lawmakers clash over how quickly emerging tools should be adopted.

Alaska Governor’s race reshuffle: Democrat Tom Begich stepped aside after the Aug. 19 primary, clearing the way for Jonathan Kreiss-Tompkins to consolidate support in the ranked-choice general election; Republicans are now scrambling to unify behind a single ticket. Big Tech legal fight: Alaska AG Dave Sunday joined a multistate lawsuit with the FTC accusing Amazon of deceptive ad pricing that allegedly inflated costs for sellers and brands. Air quality in court: GOP AGs, including Kentucky’s and Pennsylvania’s coalition led by Russell Coleman, asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Biden-era EPA soot limits—an issue with major cost and permitting stakes. EV policy pressure: A new study ranks Alaska among the least convenient places to drive an EV, citing high electricity prices. Defense and readiness: Alaska’s military footprint and energy/infrastructure gaps were front-and-center at the Alaska Defense Forum, with agriculture and land partnerships also highlighted. USO Kodiak opening: USO Alaska announced a Sept. 10 grand opening of a new Kodiak center on a Coast Guard installation.

Alaska U.S. Senate: Dan Sullivan and Mary Peltola traded barbs at an Alaska Oil and Gas Association forum, with Sullivan leaning hard on “Lower 48 liberal” attacks and warning Democrats would renew efforts to restrict Alaska oil and gas. State Politics & Elections: Alaska’s campaign watchdog says a legislative candidate should be declared ineligible to run, adding another twist to the lead-up to November. Local Governance & Schools: A lawsuit over the closure of Campbell STEM Elementary School was dismissed, while Anchorage leaders say they’re working on a new process and aiming to avoid more closures this year. Public Safety: A woman in Haines was seriously but stable after a brown bear mauling while walking her dog; troopers and Fish and Game are tracking the incident. Military & Readiness: The Alaska-based 11th Airborne Division began pre-exercise coordination for Japan’s Yama Sakura 91 after crossing the International Date Line, underscoring Alaska’s role in Pacific interoperability. Economy Watch: Anchorage’s economy is still recovering slowly, with consumer confidence flagged as weak even as job gains continue.