JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) 鈥� Democratic former U.S. Rep. said on Monday she would challenge Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in this year’s midterm elections, delighting party leaders who view her candidacy as critical for efforts to retake control of the U.S. Senate.
Peltola is among a handful of Democrats who have recently won statewide elections in red states, and she vowed to shake up the establishment to make life more affordable for Alaskans.
鈥淟ife is difficult here, and we know that we have to take care of each other,鈥� Peltola said in a video announcement.
Democrats to win the majority in the 100-member Senate, a task that would require ousting Republicans in states recently won by Donald Trump in the presidential election, while also defending their own incumbents.
Peltola, who is Yup鈥檌k, was to serve in Congress. She won special and regular elections in 2022 for Alaska鈥檚 only House seat, defeating a field that included Republican former Gov. Sarah Palin. In 2024, Peltola , who had unsuccessfully run in 2022.
Her time in Congress was marked by tragedy. Her mother died in 2023, and later that year.
Peltola focused on local concerns in her announcement, saying Alaska’s future depends on fixing the 鈥渞igged system in D.C. that鈥檚 shutting down Alaska, while politicians feather their own nests.鈥�
She said the salmon and migratory birds that once filled the freezers of Alaska Native subsistence hunters are now harder to find, forcing families who live far from the state’s limited road system to rely on grocery stores for pricey staples, driven up by high transportation costs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just that politicians in D.C. don鈥檛 care that we鈥檙e paying $17 for a gallon of milk in rural Alaska,” she said. “They don鈥檛 even believe us. They鈥檙e more focused on their stock portfolios than our bank accounts.鈥�
Alaska could prove to be difficult political terrain. Sullivan, a former state attorney general and natural resources commissioner, defeated the state’s last Democratic senator in 2014.
He reported $4.7 million available in his last campaign finance report, which included the third quarter of 2025. New reports are expected soon.
Still, Democrats were upbeat about Peltola’s bid.
State party chair Eric Croft called Peltola 鈥渙ur most steadfast champion and a strong voice for Alaskans in every region of our state.鈥� Lauren French, a spokesperson for the Senate Majority PAC, a Democratic campaign organization, said Peltola’s decision to run 鈥渃ompletely upends the campaign.鈥�
Most registered voters in Alaska aren鈥檛 affiliated with a political party. Both the state House and the state Senate are controlled by bipartisan coalitions.
The Republican National Committee said Peltola became 鈥渁 rubber stamp for the far-left the second she got to Washington.鈥�
“Alaskans saw through her empty promises then showed her the door, and she鈥檒l lose to Dan Sullivan who fights for Alaskans every day,鈥� RNC spokesperson Nick Poche said in a statement.
While serving in Washington, Sullivan has been involved in military and resource development issues. He was endorsed by Trump in 2020.
Nate Adams, a campaign spokesman for Sullivan, said the senator 鈥渉as spent years delivering real results鈥� while 鈥渉is opponent served a term and a half in Congress where she didn鈥檛 pass a single bill.”
Peltola has long touted her ability to work across party lines, such as supporting the large on Alaska鈥檚 North Slope. She angered some Democrats in 2024 when she refused to endorse then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race won by Trump.
Peltola said Alaska鈥檚 Republican congressional delegation used to ignore partisanship and do what was right for the state, such as backing public media and disaster relief, and even invoked Republican former Sen. Ted Stevens.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about time Alaskans teach the rest of the country what Alaska First and, really, America First looks like,鈥� Peltola said.
Alaska has open primaries and ranked choice voting in general elections. The top four vote-getters in the August primary regardless of party affiliation will advance to the November general election.
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Thiessen reported from Anchorage, Alaska.
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