U.S. Senate challenger Dan Sullivan has won a rare endorsement from the Alaska Support Industry Alliance.
Rebecca Logan, the trade association’s general manager, says the board made the decision last week.
“It’s the first time in about 20 years that the organization has endorsed a political candidate,” she said. “We typically don’t do that. But because we feel the outcome of this election has such a huge impact on resource development in the state of Alaska we felt it was important to do so.”
Logan says the board likes Sullivan’s experience fighting for resource development. It also hopes his election will put the Senate in Republican control, which would elevate Sen. Lisa Murkowski to important leadership roles. The Alliance represents service companies in the oil, gas and mining industries.
Incumbent Sen. Mark Begich disappointed the group by backing the EPA’s move to block development of the Pebble Mine near Bristol Bay. Logan says that was a factor in the decision to endorse his opponent.
Meanwhile, Begich continues to rack up endorsements from fishing trade associations. The Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association announced their support of him last week, praising his grasp of complex fisheries issues. Begich also has the endorsements from the Bering Sea Crabbers and United Fishermen of Alaska.
Liz Ruskin is the Washington, D.C., correspondent at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at lruskin@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Liz here.
