Republican Alek Skarlatos is reaching across state lines to get a financial boost for his second run at U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Springfield in the 4th Congressional District. 

DeFazio defeated Skarlatos in 2020 by 5% – the closest race in the Democrat’s 34-year congressional history. The two spent at least $8.3 million, making it Oregon’s most expensive congressional race. Skarlatos is seeking a rematch.

The Federal Elections Commission reported Friday that “Stronger PNW PAC for Alek Skarlatos and Tiffany Smiley” will also aid Smiley, is a Republican running against U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-WA.

The new PAC lists the treasurer as Chris Marston, an Alexandria attorney specializing in election law. Skarlatos initial report of the new PAC listed the treasurer as Lisa Lisker, a top GOP fundraiser based in Virginia who has created several PACs to aid candidates and already has ties to Smiley. Skarlatos later revised his filing to list Marston as the treasurer.

The money will be in addition to the candidate’s main PAC. Alek for Oregon PAC reported it raised $744,844 this year, through Sept. 30, while spending $532,973.

The committee is authorized as a secondary fundraising PAC to their separate campaign funds. The PAC listing the Oregon GOP duo would split any money raised between Chavez-DeRemer and Skarlatos.

The DeFazio for Congress PAC reported raising just over $1.2 million this year while spending $428,285. DeFazio also reported he will receive support from the Portland-based Progressive Americans for Democracy PAC. 

DeFazio beat Skarlatos by 5% in 2020, but the district lines will be different next year because of redistricting required to reflect the 2020 U.S. Census. Republicans have filed a lawsuit against the maps approved Sept. 27 by the Legislature and Gov. Brown. Under the Democratic-drawn plan, the 4th district would add more Democratic-leaning areas.

Skarlatos, a Roseburg resident, received acclaim for being among a small group of men who stopped a 2015 attack by an Islamic State extremist aboard a Paris-bound train. He was a member of the Oregon National Guard at the time.