Mary Peltola Announces Senate Run in Alaska

Former U.S. Representative Mary Peltola declared her intention on Monday to run for the U.S. Senate seat from Alaska, aiming to challenge the incumbent Republican, Dan Sullivan.

In a brief video, Peltola pointed out “scarcity” and inflation as pressing issues troubling Alaskans. She mentioned, “When I was growing up, Alaska was abundant, but now we’re facing scarcity.” She elaborated that key resources like salmon and game birds are increasingly hard to come by, forcing people to buy more groceries at high prices.

Peltola previously represented Alaska in the House, winning a special election in 2022 and then a full-term election later that same year, overcoming four other candidates, including former Governor Sarah Palin. However, she lost her House seat to Republican Nick Begich III in 2024.

In her announcement, Peltola highlighted the legacy of late Republican senators Ted Stevens and Don Young, stating they prioritized Alaska’s needs over party politics. She recalled, “Our delegation once fought for issues like public media and disaster relief because Alaska relies on them,” and emphasized, “Ted Stevens used to say, ‘Forget politics, put Alaska first.'” She urged Alaskans to show the nation what a true “Alaska First” philosophy looks like.

Peltola’s entry into the race comes as Democrats gear up for the upcoming midterm elections, with hopes of regaining control of Congress. A super PAC aligned with the Democratic Party had recently criticized Sullivan for his votes that supposedly drove up healthcare costs. Sullivan, in his defense, highlighted the tax cuts he championed and critiqued the Biden administration for its failure to support Alaskans’ interests.

Sullivan has mentioned that over 70 executive orders from Biden were detrimental to Alaska, arguing that this is the norm whenever Democrats hold power in Washington, D.C.