Democrat Mary Peltola announces bid for Alaska senate seat against GOP Sen Dan Sullivan

WASHINGTON, DC: Former Rep Mary Peltola announced on Monday, January 12, that she is running for the US Senate in Alaska, setting up a high-stakes challenge to two-term Republican Sen Dan Sullivan and giving Democrats one of their most prominent recruits in an otherwise daunting Senate map.

“Growing up, Alaska was a place of abundance. Now, we have scarcity,” Peltola said in a campaign launch video, citing rising grocery prices and dwindling access to salmon, game and other subsistence staples. “So we buy more groceries, with crushing prices.”

Peltola, Alaska’s first Alaska Native member of Congress, represented the state as its lone House member after winning a 2022 special election and a full term later that year.

A Democrat who outperformed the party in Alaska

A former state legislator and member of the centrist Blue Dog Coalition, Peltola built a reputation for outperforming national Democrats in the Republican-leaning state.

She ran her first congressional campaign under the slogan “fish, family, freedom,” a message she echoed again in her Senate launch.

Still, she lost her 2024 reelection bid by about three points, as President Donald Trump carried Alaska by roughly 13 points, a reminder of the steep challenge facing Democrats statewide.

Democrats see an opening in a difficult Senate map

Democrats face a steep climb to regain a Senate majority in 2026, needing to defend vulnerable seats while flipping at least four Republican-held states.

With no current Democratic senators from the states Trump won by double digits, party leaders are searching for unconventional opportunities.

They believe Peltola’s name recognition, fundraising ability and bipartisan image could make Alaska competitive. Party strategists are also eyeing long-shot opportunities in states such as Ohio, Iowa and Texas.

Mary Peltola's pitch to GOP-leaning voters

In her launch video, Peltola sought to appeal to conservative-leaning Alaskans by invoking late Republican leaders Ted Stevens and Don Young, her predecessor in the House.

“Our delegation used to stand up to their party and put Alaska first,” she said, praising their willingness to buck national politics on issues like public media funding and disaster relief.

Peltola has emphasized her support for gun rights, noting she owns 176 long guns while also backing abortion rights. She has criticized what she called a “rigged system” and voiced support for term limits.

Dan Sullivan readies for a tougher fight

While Peltola did not mention Sullivan by name, the incumbent Republican is already preparing for a potentially competitive race. A Marine veteran with Trump’s endorsement, Sullivan had nearly $4.8 million in campaign funds as of late September.

Sullivan was first elected in 2014, narrowly defeating Democrat Mark Begich, and won reelection in 2020 by a comfortable margin.

He has largely backed Trump’s agenda, including the president’s sweeping tax and spending package, though he recently joined Democrats to support extending Affordable Care Act subsidies.