Alaska Senate race 2026: Dan Sullivan vs. Mary Peltola

The basics

Alaska votes Nov. 3 using ranked choice voting. Four candidates advanced from the Aug. 18 top four primary: Peltola (49.5%), Sen. Dan S. Sullivan (41.4%), Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and Republican Gerald Heikes. Democrat David Leslie, who placed fourth, withdrew, which let Heikes advance. If no candidate wins a majority of first choices, ranked choice rounds are run after absentee ballots are counted, so a final result may not be known on election night.

The candidates

Dan Sullivan (R) is a retired Marine seeking a third term. He says the best way to lower costs is "to produce more Alaskan energy by and for Alaskans," and he wants the war in Iran to end with the Strait of Hormuz reopened and a deal that keeps Iran from getting nuclear weapons, the Associated Press reported.

Mary Peltola (D) won Alaska's U.S. House seat in 2022 and lost it in 2024. She points to her work on the delegation's approval of the Willow oil project and says the war in Iran "is driving up our energy bills and hurting Alaskans with no end in sight." She blames the Trump administration for rising prices.

Where the race stands

Public polling has been sparse. The only recent independent poll in STTPN's average, from Alaska Survey Research (Oct. 1–3, 1,512 likely voters, ±3), showed Peltola 51%, Sullivan 49% after ranked choice tabulation. Cook and Inside Elections rate the race a Toss-up. Sabato's Crystal Ball rates it Lean Democratic. Peltola had raised about $36.9 million through Oct. 14, compared with about $14.1 million for Sullivan, according to the FEC.

The issues

The war in Iran and energy prices

This was the main clash at the candidates' final debate on Oct. 15. Peltola says the war has raised fuel costs for Alaskans. Sullivan says Alaska's own oil and gas production is the answer to high energy costs.

Who is more effective

Sullivan says Peltola was ineffective in Congress and that he "saw her up close and personal." Peltola called that "kind of revisionist history." Both say the other has been dishonest during the campaign.

Trump

Both candidates said at the debate that a third term for President Donald Trump would be improper. Sullivan called it unconstitutional, and Peltola said, "Two terms for every president."

Controversies

The second Dan Sullivan

Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired Petersburg schoolteacher, is on the ballot alongside the senator. A state elections official earlier ruled him ineligible, finding his candidacy was filed "with a purpose to confuse or mislead," but the Alaska Supreme Court ruled he could run. He has denied running at Democrats' request. On Oct. 22 the Justice Department sued to stop Alaska from certifying any result that "may be impacted by voter confusion," meaning a narrow Sullivan loss, and Trump said he told the department to file it. Peltola's campaign called the suit "a despicable political threat to overturn an election," ABC News reported.

On Oct. 28, The New York Times reported that Peltola's former campaign manager said Peltola's campaign and Democratic operatives ran a project to recruit spoiler candidates, including the second Sullivan. She said Peltola was not directly involved but was aware of it. Peltola called the report "another distraction," Trump called for her prosecution, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered a state investigation, the Associated Press reported. No charges have been filed.

Staff allegations

In September the Times also published claims from anonymous former aides that Peltola mistreated staff. Her campaign said some claims were false or exaggerated and pointed to the deaths of her husband and mother while she was in Congress. Sen. Lisa Murkowski defended her. Sullivan and the state Republican Party condemned her, the Anchorage Daily News reported.