Elvi Gray-Jackson Drops Out of U.S. Senate Race
Elvi Gray-Jackson announced today she is dropping out of the U.S. Senate race and will instead seek reelection to her state senate seat.
Citing the conclusions drawn by first-quarter fundraising and reflecting on the monumental expenses necessary to run a successful campaign, Gray-Jackson said she recognized that the need for campaign finance reform was real and that returning to her seat in Juneau was the best way to help effectuate that change.
"I believe that all Alaskans who have the desire and ability to serve our state and our nation should not be faced with barriers to success so overwhelming that only the wealthy and the well-connected can overcome them. I look forward to using my seat in the State Senate to help pave the way for legislative reform so that good Alaskans who are called to serve in the future can succeed."
Gray-Jackson, Alaska's first Black U.S. Senate candidate and the first Democrat to confirm her candidacy in the race, said she looks forward to supporting a new candidate who represents the best of Alaska's ideals to challenge Republican Lisa Murkowski this November.
An email sent to the Alaska Democratic Party inquiring whether they would run another candidate for U.S. Senate was not immediately responded to.
You can read Gray-Jackson's complete statement below.
Over the past six months, I have been encouraged by the conversations I have had with family and friends about Alaska’s future. Alaska is truly ready for change, and deserves better than our current representation in the Senate.
However, as first-quarter fundraising concludes, and after some deep reflection on our current system and the monumental expenses necessary to run a successful campaign, I have decided that my best efforts to change that system, and to change Alaska will be done in the Senate in Juneau.
The need for campaign finance reform is real. I believe that all Alaskans who have the desire and ability to serve our state and our nation should not be faced with barriers to success so overwhelming that only the wealthy and the well-connected can overcome them. I look forward to using my seat in the State Senate to help pave the way for legislative reform so that good Alaskans who are called to serve in the future can succeed.
Alaska needs change, both in campaign finance law, and in our representation in the nation’s Capitol. It is time for Alaska to stop looking behind us, and to embrace our future possibilities. With that, I look forward to supporting a new candidate who represents the best of Alaska’s ideals to challenge Lisa Murkowski in November of 2022.
As my campaign for U.S. Senate comes to an end, I would also like to thank all the Alaskans who have supported me, in all my campaigns, and who encouraged me to run.
I look forward to continuing to work hard for you, and for Alaska.
Thank you,
State Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson
