Leftwing Anchorage pastor, Rev. Matt Schultz, claims he opposes super PACs that are bankrolled by “out of state billionaires,” yet his outrage appears narrowly limited to groups that help his political opponents, namely Republican Congressman Nick Begich and Democrat Bill Hill.

Two days before dropping his bid to unseat Begich, the Democrat Schultz issued a July 15 statement that attempted to frame his indignation as that of a “pastor” demanding honesty and integrity in politics.

“Our democracy is sacred, and Alaska’s elections should be decided by Alaskans, not manipulated by Washington insiders or super PACs bankrolled by out-of-state billionaires,” he said. “We reject the GOP’s attempt to meddle in this race just as firmly as we reject dark money spending to support Bill Hill or Nick Begich. As a pastor, I believe public leadership demands integrity, and no one should try to deceive voters or rig the choices before them.”

Despite these forceful words, Schultz leveled no condemnation or judgement for the super PACs and billionaires who are actively working to undermine Rep. Begich’s reputation in the lead-up to the August primary.

He had nothing to say about the House Majority PAC, which is spending millions in attack ads aimed at Schultz’s main opponent – Begich. Likewise, he is silent when it comes to the Senate Majority PAC, a well-heeled Democratic super PAC aligned with Mary Peltola’s campaign to unseat Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.

The pastor’s outrage somehow passed over these groups, as well as a new outside campaign aimed at blaming Republicans for rising health care costs. Announced earlier this month, the “Sick of It! Fix Health Care Now” campaign is a multi-month project by a group called Protect Our Care, which is bankrolled by the nonprofit 1630 Fund. The strategy includes using live events, townhalls, carefully trained storytellers, blanket advertising and a bus tour to gin up opposition to Republicans. The 1630 Fund is described by Influence Watch as “one of the left’s largest hubs of dark money” and “a clearinghouse of undisclosed cash for the left.”

In Alaska, one of the main faces of the “Sick of It” effort is left-wing State Sen. Forrest Dunbar (D-Anchorage). While Schultz’s website proudly boasted that Dunbar has endorsed him, Schultz had no criticism of Dunbar’s involvement with the outside-funded campaign that is actively attacking Begich.

Throughout his now abandoned campaign, Schultz has leaned into his role as pastor of the ultra-liberal First Presbyterian Church in Anchorage, asserting that he is running for Congress in order to continue his “calling” to “feed the hungry, comfort the grieving and stand up to bullies.”

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