# Outside AI Money in Alaska's Senate Race, Mapped

> Most Anthropic, OpenAI and xAI employees who gave in Alaska's Senate race live in California. Not one lists an Alaska address.

Published 2026-11-06 by Alaska AI. 9 slides.
Canonical: https://alaskaaihq.com/archive/2026-11-06/

## The story

No Senate race drew more from AI-company employees. Zero Alaska addresses.

About $119,000 from at least 19 donors.

Peltola, at least $56,000, nearly all from Anthropic employees. Sullivan, about $63,000, plus $35,000 to his True North leadership PAC that the $119,000 leaves out. Figures per the Alaska Beacon.

First among Senate races. Fifth and 14th among candidates.

Mike Rounds of South Dakota tops the candidates at $165,100 with PACs. Sullivan's $98,000 counts his PAC. Most donors gave close to the legal limit.

Count Big Tech too, and the order flips.

Counting Anthropic, OpenAI and xAI alone, Sullivan ranks 5th and Peltola 14th. Add Big Tech employees and Peltola ranks 5th, Sullivan 16th. Close to 150 Big Tech donors gave to Peltola, four to Sullivan.

Same map, second stream. In April the Air Force offered developers land on three Alaska bases for AI data centers.

Most of it moved through joint committees first.

More than half of Peltola's came through the Fish Family Freedom Fund, and Sullivan's mainly through One Team Senate Majority and Sullivan Victory. The Beacon traced it with an AI agent called DataTalk.

Same weeks, separate records.

As the Air Force set site visits at three Alaska bases, executives of Twenty First Century Utilities and Saige Consulting appear in Sullivan's FEC filings. Employer data shouldn't be read as proof of coordinated giving, Campaign Legal Center's Brendan Fischer told the Beacon.

637 votes apart, with about a quarter still to count.

Peltola 48 percent, Sullivan 47.7 percent, 215,912 ballots counted. Ranked choices are tabulated November 18th, with certification targeted for November 25th.

Save this for November 18th.

At least 19 donors, none with an Alaska address. 637 votes apart. The count is still open.

## What we verified

- The FEC sets the 2025 to 2026 limit for an individual giving to a candidate committee at $3,500 per election. [Federal Election Commission](https://www.fec.gov/help-candidates-and-committees/candidate-taking-receipts/contribution-limits/), primary document, 2026-11-07.
- FEC records show Peter Corsell, listing Twenty First Century Utilities as employer, gave $7,000 to Sullivan Victory on May 1st. [Federal Election Commission (OpenFEC)](https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/?api_key=DEMO_KEY&committee_id=C00609255&contributor_name=CORSELL&two_year_transaction_period=2026), primary document, 2026-07-15.
- Alaskans for Dan Sullivan reported Corsell as the source of $3,500 for the primary and $3,500 for the general on May 1st, both entries labeled transfer memo. [Federal Election Commission (OpenFEC)](https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/?api_key=DEMO_KEY&committee_id=C00570994&contributor_name=CORSELL&two_year_transaction_period=2026), primary document, 2026-07-15.
- FEC records show Aaron Kapito, listing TFC Utilities as employer, gave $3,500 to Sullivan Victory on April 24th. [Federal Election Commission (OpenFEC)](https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/?api_key=DEMO_KEY&committee_id=C00609255&contributor_name=KAPITO&two_year_transaction_period=2026), primary document, 2026-07-15.
- Alaskans for Dan Sullivan reported Kapito as the source of $3,500 for the primary on April 24th, labeled transfer memo. [Federal Election Commission (OpenFEC)](https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/?api_key=DEMO_KEY&committee_id=C00570994&contributor_name=KAPITO&two_year_transaction_period=2026), primary document, 2026-07-15.
- Alaskans for Dan Sullivan reported Charles Hu, managing partner of Saige Consulting, as the source of $3,500 for the primary and $3,500 for the general on April 24th, labeled transfer memo. [Federal Election Commission (OpenFEC)](https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/?api_key=DEMO_KEY&committee_id=C00570994&contributor_name=HU,%20CHARLES&two_year_transaction_period=2026), primary document, 2026-07-15.
- The OpenFEC employer aggregation for Alaskans for Dan Sullivan shows $28,000 from 10 contributions by donors listing Anthropic as employer in the 2026 cycle. [Federal Election Commission (OpenFEC)](https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/by_employer/?api_key=DEMO_KEY&committee_id=C00570994&cycle=2026&employer=ANTHROPIC), primary document, 2026-11-07.
- The same FEC aggregation shows a further $7,000 from 3 contributions by donors listing Anthropic PBC as employer to Alaskans for Dan Sullivan. [Federal Election Commission (OpenFEC)](https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/by_employer/?api_key=DEMO_KEY&committee_id=C00570994&cycle=2026&employer=ANTHROPIC), primary document, 2026-11-07.
- The OpenFEC employer aggregation for Alaskans for Mary shows a single $3,500 contribution from a donor listing Anthropic as employer in the 2026 cycle. [Federal Election Commission (OpenFEC)](https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/schedules/schedule_a/by_employer/?api_key=DEMO_KEY&committee_id=C00933978&cycle=2026&employer=ANTHROPIC), primary document, 2026-11-07.
- The Air Force solicitation AFCEC-26-R-0006 covers AI data center development at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Eielson Air Force Base and Clear Space Force Station. [SAM.gov (U.S. General Services Administration)](https://sam.gov/api/prod/sgs/v1/search/?index=opp&q=AFCEC-26-R-0006&page=0&size=25&mode=search), primary document, 2026-07-15.
- The SAM.gov record for AFCEC-26-R-0006 lists a response deadline of June 29th at 5 p.m. Eastern. [SAM.gov (U.S. General Services Administration)](https://sam.gov/api/prod/sgs/v1/search/?index=opp&q=AFCEC-26-R-0006&page=0&size=25&mode=search), primary document, 2026-07-15.
- The SAM.gov record for the Air Force AI data center solicitation is marked inactive. [SAM.gov (U.S. General Services Administration)](https://sam.gov/api/prod/sgs/v1/search/?index=opp&q=AFCEC-26-R-0006&page=0&size=25&mode=search), primary document, 2026-07-15.
- The SAM.gov record shows 10 modifications, the latest made July 15th. [SAM.gov (U.S. General Services Administration)](https://sam.gov/api/prod/sgs/v1/search/?index=opp&q=AFCEC-26-R-0006&page=0&size=25&mode=search), primary document, 2026-07-15.
- As of November 7th the SAM.gov record for the Air Force AI data center solicitation lists no awardee. [SAM.gov (U.S. General Services Administration)](https://sam.gov/api/prod/sgs/v1/search/?index=opp&q=AFCEC-26-R-0006&page=0&size=25&mode=search), primary document, 2026-07-15.
- An FEC analysis published by the Alaska Beacon found that Alaska's U.S. Senate race drew more money from AI company employees than any other 2026 Senate race. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- At least 19 AI company employees gave to the campaigns of Sen. Dan Sullivan and challenger Mary Peltola, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Those AI company employees gave about $119,000 to the Sullivan and Peltola campaigns combined, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Most of those donors gave close to the maximum legal contribution, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Many of the donations to both candidates came from employees of Anthropic, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- None of the AI company donors listed an Alaska address, and most live in California, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Peltola received at least $56,000 from AI company employees, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Nearly all of Peltola's AI employee money came from Anthropic employees, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Sullivan's campaign received about $63,000 from AI company employees, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Another $35,000 from AI company employees went to Sullivan's leadership PAC, True North, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Sullivan's combined AI employee total, campaign plus leadership PAC, was about $98,000, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Sullivan ranked fifth among Senate candidates nationwide in donations from AI company employees, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Peltola ranked 14th among Senate candidates nationwide in donations from AI company employees, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- The top Senate candidate nationally for AI employee money was Republican Mike Rounds of South Dakota with $165,100, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- A donor can give a federal candidate $3,500 per election, or $7,000 for the primary and general together, as the Beacon article states. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- A donor can also give $5,000 a year to a leadership PAC, as the Beacon article states. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- In the Beacon analysis Sullivan had the fewest AI employee donors but received the most per donor. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Counting Big Tech employees as well, Peltola's campaign ranks fifth among Senate candidates nationwide, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Counting Big Tech employees as well, Sullivan ranks 16th among Senate candidates nationwide, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Close to 150 Big Tech employees have given to Peltola compared with four for Sullivan, according to the Beacon analysis. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- The Beacon analysis counted only Anthropic, OpenAI and xAI as AI companies. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Sullivan's AI employee contributions mainly came through One Team Senate Majority, a joint fundraising committee that splits money with the NRSC and other Republican campaigns. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Sullivan's AI employee contributions also came through his joint fundraising committee, Sullivan Victory. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- More than half of Peltola's AI employee contributions came through the Fish Family Freedom Fund, which she formed in January with the Alaska Democratic Party and the DSCC. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Brendan Fischer of the Campaign Legal Center told the Beacon that large contributions from a few employees in one industry can suggest donors see a candidate as favorable to their interests. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- Fischer cautioned against using employer data as proof of coordinated giving, according to the Beacon. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- The Beacon story was reported by Stanford student journalists using DataTalk, a campaign finance AI agent built by Big Local News and the Stanford Open Virtual Assistant Lab. [Alaska Beacon (States Newsroom)](https://alaskabeacon.com/2026/11/03/alaskas-u-s-senate-race-draws-significant-donations-from-ai-company-employees/), report, 2026-11-03.
- The Alaska Current reported that donors tied to Peter Corsell's network gave Sullivan's campaign and joint committee a combined $58,000. [The Alaska Current](https://thealaskacurrent.com/2026/10/30/data-center-donations-dan-sullivan/), report, 2026-10-30.
- The Alaska Current's table lists seven donors tied to Twenty First Century Utilities, I Squared Capital and Saige Consulting. [The Alaska Current](https://thealaskacurrent.com/2026/10/30/data-center-donations-dan-sullivan/), report, 2026-10-30.
- The Alaska Current reported that most of the network's donations came between April 23rd and May 1st, with another on May 15th. [The Alaska Current](https://thealaskacurrent.com/2026/10/30/data-center-donations-dan-sullivan/), report, 2026-10-30.
- The Alaska Current reported that Corsell contributed $14,000 in support of Sullivan's reelection. [The Alaska Current](https://thealaskacurrent.com/2026/10/30/data-center-donations-dan-sullivan/), report, 2026-10-30.
- According to The Alaska Current, TFC estimates North Slope Power at $13 billion for a basic build of up to 3 gigawatts. [The Alaska Current](https://thealaskacurrent.com/2026/10/30/data-center-donations-dan-sullivan/), report, 2026-10-30.
- According to The Alaska Current, the North Slope Power cost rises above $27 billion with a southbound transmission line. [The Alaska Current](https://thealaskacurrent.com/2026/10/30/data-center-donations-dan-sullivan/), report, 2026-10-30.
- According to The Alaska Current, the North Slope Borough committed to an exclusive partnership with TFC through 2027 and $5 million for North Slope Power. [The Alaska Current](https://thealaskacurrent.com/2026/10/30/data-center-donations-dan-sullivan/), report, 2026-10-30.
- Sullivan's campaign and office didn't respond to The Alaska Current's requests for comment. [The Alaska Current](https://thealaskacurrent.com/2026/10/30/data-center-donations-dan-sullivan/), report, 2026-10-30.
- The Air Force offered about 4,700 acres across Air Force and Space Force installations in Alaska for potential AI data centers. [Air & Space Forces Magazine](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-land-ai-data-centers-three-alaska-bases), report, 2026-04-11.
- Twelve parcels were identified for potential data center development under the Air Force offer. [Air & Space Forces Magazine](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-land-ai-data-centers-three-alaska-bases), report, 2026-04-11.
- The Air Force released its request for lease proposals for the Alaska AI data center sites on April 10th. [Air & Space Forces Magazine](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-land-ai-data-centers-three-alaska-bases), report, 2026-04-11.
- The Air Force scheduled an industry day for the Alaska data center offer on April 23rd. [Air & Space Forces Magazine](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-land-ai-data-centers-three-alaska-bases), report, 2026-04-11.
- Site visits were set for Elmendorf-Richardson on April 28th, Clear on April 29th and Eielson on April 30th. [Air & Space Forces Magazine](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-land-ai-data-centers-three-alaska-bases), report, 2026-04-11.
- Air and Space Forces Magazine reported in April that companies had until May 29th to submit proposals. [Air & Space Forces Magazine](https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-land-ai-data-centers-three-alaska-bases), report, 2026-04-11.
- In unofficial results as of Wednesday afternoon, November 4th, Peltola had 48 percent of the U.S. Senate vote and Sullivan had 47.7 percent. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/politics/2026/11/06/like-in-past-elections-alaska-is-still-counting-ballots-when-will-we-know-who-won/), report, 2026-11-06.
- Peltola and Sullivan were separated by 637 votes in the unofficial count as of Wednesday afternoon, November 4th. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/politics/2026/11/06/like-in-past-elections-alaska-is-still-counting-ballots-when-will-we-know-who-won/), report, 2026-11-06.
- The Alaska Division of Elections had counted 215,912 ballots as of Wednesday afternoon, November 4th. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/politics/2026/11/06/like-in-past-elections-alaska-is-still-counting-ballots-when-will-we-know-who-won/), report, 2026-11-06.
- Roughly one quarter of all votes in Alaska had not been tallied as of the ADN's November 6th report. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/politics/2026/11/06/like-in-past-elections-alaska-is-still-counting-ballots-when-will-we-know-who-won/), report, 2026-11-06.
- Ranked choice tabulation for Alaska's general election is scheduled for November 18th. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/politics/2026/11/06/like-in-past-elections-alaska-is-still-counting-ballots-when-will-we-know-who-won/), report, 2026-11-06.
- November 25th is the state's target date to certify Alaska's election results. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/politics/2026/11/06/like-in-past-elections-alaska-is-still-counting-ballots-when-will-we-know-who-won/), report, 2026-11-06.
- Two UAA associate professors wrote in an ADN op-ed that Anthropic's Claude generated the initial draft of the University of Alaska's AI plan. [Anchorage Daily News (opinion)](https://www.adn.com/opinions/2026/11/03/opinion-who-wrote-uas-ai-plan-a-chatbot-did/), report, 2026-11-04.
- The op-ed authors say Claude's role in drafting was not disclosed until October 9th. [Anchorage Daily News (opinion)](https://www.adn.com/opinions/2026/11/03/opinion-who-wrote-uas-ai-plan-a-chatbot-did/), report, 2026-11-04.
- The University of Alaska Board of Regents commissioned a strategic document called AI Engaged in June 2026, according to the op-ed. [Anchorage Daily News (opinion)](https://www.adn.com/opinions/2026/11/03/opinion-who-wrote-uas-ai-plan-a-chatbot-did/), report, 2026-11-04.
- The University of Alaska Board of Regents was scheduled to vote on the AI statement of intent on November 5th. [Anchorage Daily News (opinion)](https://www.adn.com/opinions/2026/11/03/opinion-who-wrote-uas-ai-plan-a-chatbot-did/), report, 2026-11-04.
- Of 150 UAA students cited for academic misconduct last semester, 119 used AI, the ADN reported. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/education/2026/10/04/ai-policy-coming-to-university-of-alaska-as-student-misuse-increases/), report, 2026-10-04.
- The ADN reported that Shier drafted the University of Alaska's AI intent language over the summer at the request of regents. [Anchorage Daily News](https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/education/2026/10/04/ai-policy-coming-to-university-of-alaska-as-student-misuse-increases/), report, 2026-10-04.
- An exchange agreement lets Enstar buy about 1.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas, with MEA and Hilcorp as the other parties. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/anchorage/2026-11-06/enstar-secures-gas-deal-for-southcentral-as-winter-sets-in), report, 2026-11-06.
- The Regulatory Commission of Alaska approved the Enstar exchange agreement in late October, according to Alaska Public Media. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/anchorage/2026-11-06/enstar-secures-gas-deal-for-southcentral-as-winter-sets-in), report, 2026-11-06.
- Enstar must deliver the equivalent amount of gas back to MEA by March 2028, according to Alaska Public Media. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/anchorage/2026-11-06/enstar-secures-gas-deal-for-southcentral-as-winter-sets-in), report, 2026-11-06.
- Enstar aims to have between 6 and 7 billion cubic feet of gas in storage by the end of December, according to Alaska Public Media. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/anchorage/2026-11-06/enstar-secures-gas-deal-for-southcentral-as-winter-sets-in), report, 2026-11-06.
- The exchange boosts Enstar's end of December storage projection to about 5 billion cubic feet, according to Alaska Public Media. [Alaska Public Media](https://alaskapublic.org/news/anchorage/2026-11-06/enstar-secures-gas-deal-for-southcentral-as-winter-sets-in), report, 2026-11-06.

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