Republican Governors Association v. Alaska Public Offices Commission and Walker Mallot for Alaska

Summary

The Alaska Supreme Court affirmed the Superior Court’s decision upholding the Alaska Public Offices Commission’s interpretation that “expenditures” under the campaign finance statute include promises or agreements to purchase advertising, even when not contractually binding, and affirmed that the Commission’s findings that RGA’s media reservations and its engagement of Pinpoint constituted expenditures were supported by substantial evidence. The Court applied the reasonable‑basis/substantial‑evidence standards and found no exemption for RGA from registration.