iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 24/09/2026

Looks like the Peltola campaign’s response to the NYT’s Mary Peltola is Sometimes Mean story kinda boils down to this:

Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 22/09/2026

Frankly kinda wild to hear Treg Taylor, who got on the ballot despite knowingly violating Alaska financial disclosure laws, complaining that no one trusts Alaska’s elections system because of “all the games being played.” Like, cmon. #akgov #akelect

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 08/09/2026

man, credit to the the alaska landmine when it's due they have cameras everywhere even got my live reaction to the Division of Elections' latest claims that they definitely aren't doing everything in their power to boost friendly Republicans

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 05/09/2026

Perhaps an all-time Friday news dump: GOP former Attorney General Treg "I Don't Have to Fill Out My Financial Disclosures" Taylor is BACK IN THE RACE for governor! At 10:15, Lt. Gov. Dahlstrom (R) says the Department of Law's "independent" review says she has to let Treg off the hook. #akelect

Lieutenant Governor Dahlstrom Will Certify Nominations of Treg Taylor and Jose Tagle

September 4, 2026

Today Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom announced that the Division of Elections will certify Treg Taylor’s nomination for Governor and Jose Tagle’s nomination for State Representative for District 22.

On August 31, the Lieutenant Governor announced that she would not certify those nominations after the Alaska Public Offices Commission recommended against certification under 2 AAC 50.850(h). The Department of Law has since provided this office with an initial, independent review of candidates’ public official financial disclosure statements. That informal review identified numerous potential discrepancies between filed statements and public records. The department stated that the review is preliminary and is not a determination that any specific candidate violated AS 39.50.

On the basis of that additional information, the Lieutenant Governor will certify the two candidates.

“The Department of Law’s informal review has raised questions about the recommendations made on August 31,” said Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom. “I will not withhold certification from two candidates on recommendations that, in light of this additional information, I cannot apply with confidence across the field of candidates. Certification decisions have to rest on a process that can be defended as to every candidate.”

The department provided an initial working draft of the same information to the Commission on Thursday evening. The Commission has not acted to reconsider its recommendations despite the need to finalize the ballots. The Division of Elections will now update the certified list of candidates, including the governor and lieutenant governor pairing under AS 15.25.100.

Media Contact: Tetyana Robbins, tetyana.robbins@alaska.gov

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 01/09/2026

Important to point out Jodi Taylor’s financial disclosures have the exact same problem that got Treg DQ’d. No last names who’s renting at their 234-unit apartment building. Last year, they asked for special treatment, were denied and did it any way.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 01/09/2026

Here's his relatively detail-free release. What I had heard going into the weekend was that he was already winding down his campaign (I kinda think they gassed out early). Also, AFL-CIO endorsing JKT last week signaled that there might not be the same union support if he did run.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 29/08/2026

Democrat Tom Begich has suspended his campaign and endorsed fellow Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, clearing the way for him to face 3 Republicans. He says it doesn’t make sense for them to fight over the same votes and the same resources when they have such similar visions. #akleg #akelect

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 26/08/2026

if elections time is anything like journalist-telling-their-partner-when-they're-gonna-finally-be-done time, we could be seeing results around 9-930

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 21/08/2026

hmm, let’s check out the local tv ads to see what folks are running right now… … like this apparently state-run ad (going by the state seal) trying to hype up our lame-duck governor? i just… like, really?

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 20/08/2026

me, being totally clueless: "neat press badge design" the press badge:

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 19/08/2026

Oh, and one I didn't mention earlier is Republican-turned-independent Joy Beth Cottle with a narrow lead over Harmony Tomaszewski, the wife of Rep. Frank Tomaszewski, who did the ol' last-minute switcheroo to run for Senate.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 19/08/2026

OK, but for real, Sarah Vance is in Trouble, with a capital T. With 5 of 9 precincts reporting and a 20% turnout, she's trailing independent Brett Johnson 62.3-37.7

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 19/08/2026

Ballot Measure 1, restoring campaign contribution limits, stays firm at 70%+ support. Gonna hold off on digging too much into any legislative results for now because they're super early and both super inconsequential because few actually have 4+ candidates.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 19/08/2026

Extreme-right Oathkeeper former Rep. David Eastman is currently trailing Rep. Jubilee Underwood by 20 points in his attempted comeback.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 19/08/2026

A lot of "interesting" takeaways from way-too-early results that can and will definitely change as more votes are counted, but: Independent Kathy Simpler is leading by 20% to replace Rep. Stutes Independent Denny Wells is virtually tied with GOP Rep. Costello

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 19/08/2026

Rut-roh, Christian nationalist Rep. Sarah Vance is getting trounced in early results by independent Brent Johnson. 61%-39% (3 of 9 reporting)

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 19/08/2026

If Peltola holds onto a lead tonight, that'll be quite interesting heading into the general election stretch, particularly if Dan J and Leslie round out the ticket. She cleaned up in Anchorage, too. Is leading in the R-electing East Fairbanks district. RCV would easily put her over the top.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 19/08/2026

Interesting to look at the precinct-by-precinct results for governor—WHICH ARE STILL V EARLY. While Begich is generally more popular statewide than JKT (like 20-16), JKT cleaned up in Southeast (40-20). Wilson leads in most conservative districts. Bronson got 1 in FBX; Hughes got 1 in Wasilla.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 19/08/2026

And Alaskans are, of course, broadly approving Ballot Measure 1, which will reinstate campaign contribution limits. It's passing with a frankly impressive 72% of the vote.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 08/08/2026

the whole thing has this energy:

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 07/08/2026

I really don’t know what caused such a threatening response, but the guy, who gave his name as Doug, beelined right at Bauer.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 07/08/2026

A supporter of Rep. Nick Begich III gets in the face—which is putting what he’s doing lightly—of local Democratic state candidate Peter Bauer after a closed-door rally with Speaker Mike Johnson. #akelect

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 25/07/2026

This is a mega-dumb, mega-long newsletter at 4,000+ words, so hopefully it makes up for a couple of weeks off. Words like: "It's almost like a Trump-supporting election denier is running the show."

Taken together, the state of elections in Alaska is the product of one part the result of Dunleavy's compulsive destruction of Alaska's administrative state, two parts an effort to bend the rules for their partisan advantage and a dash of incompetence, all wrapped up in the flimsiest legal arguments you'll ever find. And for a party that pays a lot of lip service to the need to restore trust in elections, it's hard to imagine a series of actions better designed to sow doubt than what the state has done leading up to this year's elections.
It's almost like a Trump-supporting election denier is running the show.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 09/07/2026

And after an executive session, the APOC commissioners affirm the staff's request for expedited (same-day, I think) consideration of the complaints. They'll wait for a staff investigation that'll be taken up on Aug. 3. Chair Feige says if the investigation gets stonewalled, they can still decide.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 09/07/2026

Then they're on to the Aurora Action Network, a dark-money group tied to Jeff Yass that's purporting to operate entirely out of the home of right-wing activist Bob Griffin. The attorney for AAN says everything's handled by Alaskans, no one outside. Will he say that under oath? No.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 09/07/2026

Commissioner Lasota: "No one's trying to impinge upon your ability to get your message out. However, election law requires that all election communications have disclaimers on them, and I've identified at least five videos that do not have disclaimers on them."

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 09/07/2026

Lasota notes that fewer than 500 videos may be "nobody" according to them, but would they resist an order ordering them to remove the offending videos (which sound like shorts). Marcum seems to suggest it's OK, pending resolution.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 09/07/2026

Richards argues the videos with all the views DO have the appropriate disclosures. The ones without just have a few hundred views, so he says no biggie. "Our elections are not going to be materially impacted by the videos nobody is watching. ... That doesn't mean we shouldn't be doing it right.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 09/07/2026

Lasota notes that several videos lack disclaimers. Richards argues that they're not actually paid-for-by ads but just volunteers posting stuff without using any resources. Marcum, he says, is a volunteer and has access to the Youtube. Lasota says full access to a YouTube channel isn't nothing.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 09/07/2026

Commissioner Lasota isn't familiar with Richards (the former AG under Walker, who has since swung far to the right). He asks whether he's an Alaskan and if he's in Alaska. Richards says yes. Lasota: "I'm sure you recognize fellow Alaskans tend to bristle at outside influence in our elections."

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 09/07/2026

Richards, sitting next to Repeal Now's Bethany Marcum (of Alaska Redistricting infamy), continued: "This is the most unprepared I have ever been in a hearing in my life. ... I had time in the 19 hours to read the full complaint."

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 09/07/2026

APOC is currently hearing the latest complaint alleging the latest effort to repeal RCV contains misleading and inaccurate campaign disclaimers (essentially hiding the fact they're primarily funded by billionaire Jeff Yass), and Craig Richards just gave the squeakiest: "THAT'S NOT FAIR!" #akelect

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 29/06/2026

Thanks for following along! I do a newsletter! akmemo.com And a podcast! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h... And have a tip jar! www.akmemo.com/tip-jar And, as always, LOOK AT THIS DOG!

Scout the cattle dog is zonked out on the couch. In the background, there's a lego cactus and a plant.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 29/06/2026

Chief Justice Carney wraps up, she says they plan to have out a short order on the decision as quickly as a multi-justice panel can. She says they'll likely have to wait longer for a fully explained argument. (Which is the normal process)

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 29/06/2026

There's some more talk about some legal precedent and other cases. Robinson jokes he's been dreaming about election cases lately. In the case, he says, "This is someone using his God-given name." He says it can be resolved with far less extreme solutions than this.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 29/06/2026

Justice Oravec seems to have had enough of the mealy-mouthedness about Murray saying the state MUST disqualify. "You control the ballot!"

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 29/06/2026

Justice Pate: "You're making inferences." Murray: "You have to agree with our read of the statutes to get there." Murray says that the whole determination is that the candidate's declaration was not "properly filed." "Properly filed has to meet something!"

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 29/06/2026

Justice Pate also gets in to try to understand what, if any, statutory framework there is for the authority to remove someone from the ballot. Murray basically argues that, sure, it may be "amorphous," but here the state is making the case that, among that amorphousness, sham candidacy is a no-no.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 29/06/2026

Justice Henderson says the whole problem is that the standards of this Division of Elections are "amorphous." It could allow them to do practically anything they want to do. Murray says the whole intent is that people who want to vote for Sen. Sullivan have a right not to be confused.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 29/06/2026

Justice Oravec hits the nail on the head: "Where's the statutory authority to divine the intent of a candidate?" She notes that there are a lot of reasons someone might want to run for office, like learning about the process of running, getting name recognition and making a point.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 29/06/2026

Chief Justice Carney asks what is so self-evident about the effort to confuse? And can't that be fixed another way? Murray says that the evidence is that a real candidate WOULD differentiate themselves, which he reiterates, Petersburg Sullivan didn't. It's a total leap in logic.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 29/06/2026

And we're underway! Lower 48 Attorney Chris Murray leads off the arguments for the state. He starts off with the fundamental question: "What is the purpose of a ballot?" He says that the whole point is to accurately reflect the public will, and this is "obviously" an effort to confuse voters.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 29/06/2026

🧵 The Alaska Supreme Court is delayed but should soon be getting underway with oral arguments on the Dan J. Sullivan ballot access lawsuit. Superior Court ruled on Friday that DoE was wrong to block the Petersburg man from challenging U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan. The state appealed. #akleg

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 27/06/2026

Here's how Judge Thomas Matthews viewed the amicus brief filed by perennial candidate Dustin Darden — who may have had to be reminded that amicus status does not let him interject. Darden warned "with no clear rule, every future candidate is at risk of the same treatment." #akelect

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 25/06/2026

Thanks for following along! Write-ups to come. I do a newsletter! akmemo.com And a podcast! podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/h... And have a tip jar! www.akmemo.com/tip-jar And, as always, LOOK AT THIS DOG!

Tuco, the 13-year-old cattle dog, sits in a field of dandelions, with a panting dog smile and a big slobbery durafoam flying disc laying out in front of him like he's sitting down for dinner while laughing.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 25/06/2026

There's some talk in wrap-up about the logistics of the rulings over the weekend. Judge Matthews says he'll hope to have a decision tomorrow, but says that it may be after 4 p.m. 😬 And they talk about the mechanics for staying the Division of Elections' actions.

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 25/06/2026

Worth noting Murray isn't a state attorney but from the conservative First and Fourtheenth law firm, whose accolades literally include: "Obtained a complete dismissal of a sexual misconduct lawsuits against Catholic dioceses, leaders, and schools in California, Kansas, Missouri, and Texas."

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Matt Acuña Buxton @matt.akmemo.com · 25/06/2026

Robinson starts out his rebuttal, noting that Judge Matthews' background has an Alaska flag — just like Dan S. and Dan J. Sullivan's campaign websites.

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