Alaska U.S. House candidate Begich gets Freedom Fund endorsement

Nick Begich III astatine 2022 campaigner forum (Matt Faubion/Alaska Public Media)

The title for Alaska’s U.S. House spot is shaping up successful absorbing ways, peculiarly among nan starring Republican candidates. We person Alaska Public Media Washington Correspondent Liz Ruskin, writer of nan newsletter Alaska At-Large, is present to show america astir it.

Listen:

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This question and reply has been lightly edited for magnitude and clarity.

Casey Grove: Liz, successful your newsletter yesterday, you said that Republican campaigner Nick Begich III sewage nan endorsement of nan House Freedom Fund. What is that and why is it significant?

Liz Ruskin: The money is nan governmental action committee of nan House Freedom Caucus, a bloc of hard-right conservatives successful nan U.S. House. They want little spending and smaller government. They’re very concerned astir migration and separator security. And they person been a thorn successful nan broadside of Republican House speakers who they see excessively compromising. As they spot it, they’re sticking to principles. More mean Republicans spot nan Freedom Caucus arsenic a faction that threatens Republican unity and nan expertise to govern.

CG: So, since they’ve endorsed Begich, does this propose that if he’s elected he’d align with  nan House Freedom Caucus?

LR: Well, I said to Begich coming and asked him that. Here’s what he said:

Nick Begich: Well, I deliberation it really depends connected nan circumstantial situation. But surely location are times wherever it’s basal for folks to return a opinionated stand. And location are different times erstwhile discuss is portion of nan process.

LR: Begich says he shares nan House Freedom Caucus’s committedness to constricted authorities but couldn’t opportunity whether he’d go a personnel if he wins nan seat. He says that depends connected nan specifics of nan Freedom Caucus schedule adjacent year. But, Casey, immoderate nan specifics will be, 1 of nan themes of  nan House Freedom Fund is that they strive to thrust retired — not conscionable Democrats — but what they telephone “establishment Republicans.”

CG: The different big-name Republican moving for Alaska’s House seat is Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, and arsenic you’ve antecedently reported, she’s nan favourite of House Speaker Mike Johnson and his fundraising allies. So if nan House Freedom Fund has endorsed Begich, that seems to person created an absorbing move betwixt him and Dahlstrom, doesn’t it?

LR: It does. We’ve sewage nan anti-establishment Republicans backing Begich, and nan House speaker  — nan highest ranking Republican successful nan constitution — backing Dahlstrom. And, since Alaska has nary Republican superior now, they could duke it retired each nan measurement to November. Although Begich has said he’ll driblet retired of nan title if he finishes down Dahlstrom successful nan primary. So nan rivalry only goes nan afloat region if Dahlstrom lags Begich successful nan primary.

CG: Liz, this week we saw an effort among far-right Republicans to oust Speaker Mike Johnson. It grounded because Democrats, including Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola, voted to rescue him. Was that nan House Freedom Caucus that tried to return him down?

LR: Not exactly. That was Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. She was kicked retired of nan House Freedom Caucus past year. But almost each of nan Republicans who voted pinch Greene connected that move to oust nan speaker this week were Freedom Caucus members. The mostly of Freedom Caucus members, though, stuck pinch nan speaker. And Begich said coming that if he’d been there, he’d person voted to support Speaker Johnson.

CG: If we’re talking Republican endorsements, I conjecture nan large 1 would beryllium Donald Trump’s. Has nan erstwhile president weighed in?

LR: Not yet. And it’s not clear which measurement he’d go. The House Freedom Caucus is very loyal to Trump. Trump, though, supported Speaker Johnson this week, to support nan gavel. Two years ago, you mightiness remember, Trump picked Sarah Palin complete Begich, and some of them vanished down Peltola.

CG: Liz, does this endorsement mean nan House Freedom Fund intends to walk a batch of money to get Begich elected?

LR: Maybe. They person millions to spend. They tin tally ads independently of Begich’s campaign, and they tin steer contributions into his campaign.