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Mary Peltola Launches Alaska Senate Bid, Recasting Dan Sullivan’s 2026 Race

Her entry prompted a Cook rating shift to Lean Republican, triggering national ad blitzes from both parties.

Overview

  • National committees moved fast, with the DSCC praising her launch, EMILY’s List endorsing, and the NRSC releasing digital attacks portraying her as liberal and aligned with Biden.
  • Sen. Lisa Murkowski said she will support Sullivan’s reelection, a contrast with her past endorsements of Peltola in House races.
  • Alaska’s top-four primary and ranked-choice voting will govern the contest, and a certified 2026 ballot measure could ask voters to repeal the system.
  • Early spending is already sizable, with Democratic-aligned groups at roughly $3.1 million and GOP groups near $1.5 million, while Sullivan reported about $4.8 million cash on hand as of Sept. 30.
  • Democrats view Peltola as a rare statewide contender in a Trump+13 state, with Cook and Inside Elections shifting the race toward competitiveness even as Sullivan remains favored.