To win control of the U.S. Senate this November, Democrats will need to net at least four seats. That will likely require at least one upset victory – but liberals are quietly confident they may have just such an upset brewing in Alaska.
Earlier this month, former Democrat Rep. Mary Peltola announced her candidacy to unseat incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, prompting plenty of celebration from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other national Democrats. In 2022, Peltola became the first Democrat in 50 years to win Alaska’s at-large congressional seat, sparking hopes that she could generate a repeat performance this year. But while Peltola may indeed be the best candidate Democrats could have hoped for, her path to the Senate may not be as clear as it initially seems.
In her announcement video, Peltola framed her candidacy as one focused on fighting for Alaska’s interests over “rigged D.C.” as well as an appeal to overcoming partisan politics. “My agenda for Alaska will always be fish, family, and freedom,” she said, reviving the slogan from her successful U.S. House run, “but our future also depends on fixing the rigged system in D.C. that’s shutting down Alaska while politicians feather their own nest.”
Early polling gives Democrats reason to be optimistic that Peltola has a chance in the race. Prior to her announcement, Alaska Survey Research found Peltola leading Sullivan 48 percent to 46 percent, while the progressive firm Data for Progress had her leading by one point.
Peltola undoubtedly understands how to distance herself from the toxic Democrat Party brand and position her campaign as an outsider taking on the corrupt D.C. establishment and “Lower 48 partisanship.” She has even tacitly embraced some of President Donald Trump’s “America First” rhetoric. But while that might be enough to make the race close, it remains to be seen if it’s enough to boost her over the top.
Moreover, Peltola now has a voting record in Congress that Republicans can leverage against her. According to her Heritage Action Scorecard, Peltola voted alongside her fellow progressive Democrats 82 percent of the time. That hardly reflects the moderate image she’s trying to project in her campaign. Her record also shows that she has betrayed each of the core values of her campaign.
Peltola repeats “Fish” as a supposed sign of her commitment to defending the state’s maritime industry, yet her record shows that she ignored the concerns of Alaskan fishermen. When Peltola introduced her “Bottom Trawl Clarity Act of 2024,” the National Fisheries Institute and the Alaska Pollock Fishery Alliance (APFA) raised major concerns regarding the legislation’s mandates and regulations that would harm the industry. They pointed out that the regulations and mandates would put such strain on the industry that it would threaten jobs, especially in “rural and socio-economically disadvantaged regions where few alternative economic drivers exist.”
Peltola claims to stand for “Family,” yet her stance on abortion says otherwise. She has built a reputation for being radically pro-abortion, calling for “access to safe, legal abortions, with no exceptions.” She has also stated that she “will fight to codify Roe v. Wade and guarantee the right to individual choice.” Unsurprisingly, she has received endorsements from abortion groups, including Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, EMILY’s List, and the National Women’s Political Caucus.
Finally, Peltola claims to stand for “Freedom,” yet has stood behind left-wing efforts to weaponize government against conservative Americans for expressing their beliefs. For instance, she voted against a measure blocking Biden-era Department of Labor rule allowing investment account managers to discriminate against companies that don’t align with liberal beliefs on climate change, gender ideology, or other progressive dogma.
Peltola has also claimed to be committed to protecting her state’s economy and bringing down the cost of living, yet she has completely embraced the left’s economic and energy policies that harm everyday Alaskans. For example, she voted against the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 and The Lower Energy Cost Act, which would have sped up the process for gas/oil permits in Alaska to reduce energy costs for Americans and create new jobs. She also voted for the inflationary spending of the Biden years that sent costs soaring.
According to the American Energy Alliance, Peltola’s voting record on energy is similar to “extreme anti-energy members like Green New Deal creator Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.” The group called her stance “clearly out of step with her constituents in Alaska.”
Ultimately, the fact that coastal progressives like Chuck Schumer are so excited about Peltola’s candidacy should be a warning sign to anyone who believes that she is a reasonable moderate. While all the pieces fell into place for Peltola to shock the political world in 2022, she may not be so fortunate this time around.
Hunter Oswald is a Research Fellow for The American Spectator. He is an alum of Grove City College, where he graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Political Science. You can follow him on X @HunterOswald8.
The only reason Petola won the first time was because of RCV (ranked choice voting)
The push for RCV is primarily funded by dark money and usually favors Democrats.
Well Republicans need to get on the ball and prompting our candidates and exposing the demoncrats socialist agenda.
Normal Democrat. Says words and acts the opposite
Beware, do not believe the flowery words that a democrat utters. They lie, lie, lie. They are the tools of satan, the father of lies.
Oh, please Alaska do not let RCV default to this Democrat!!
Peltola is a leftist pretending to be MAGA but hating America and Alaska included. She votes 82 times with the extreme progressives agenda. Works for the millionaires in Alaska and wants to destroy the government in DC. Typical democrat policy. Don’t give a lick about the people nor America. Destroy destroy destroy. It’s up to the people in Alaska to make a decision do they want America destroyed or not. All dem states do the same thing. Try to get an answer on a question you ask of your senator and you get a form letter. No personal answer. They don’t know how. Because the people are an obstacle to them. They have to deal with them only when they are not a democrat they couldn’t care less. We the people are only seen as voters. A commodity to appease at voting time and ignore all other times. Keep on voting for democrats people. You will find out their policies and plans for America. Obama isn’t done yet destroying this country.
If people haven’t learned by now that Democrats promise freedom and Democracy, they actually hate these two values and will show their true radical side if elected. As for the process, the radical liberals will be cheating more actively this year just to stop Trump.
Let’s hopeThe People of Alaska can tell the difference between Democrats and Republicans and vote accordingly! GO MAGA!
I am from Alaska (since 1976) and the only reason peltola won the first time is because of the iBS ranked voting system. She was pushed by outside (california) big money and no one had ever heard of her. While she was in office she voted straight on the democrat party line with no concern for Alaska. She does not appear to be very intelligent and is merely a progressive puppet. Piss on her!
We need a strong republican to run against her?
Peltola is a fraud, and a MARXIST DEMOCRAT who lies through her teeth, just like the Marxist in Virginia.
REPUBLICAN policies and America First is always best for Alaska
I don’t know how anyone can vote for a Democrat. They stand for everything that’s wrong in America. Hopefully, more Americans are opening their eyes to the deception and thievery the Democrats practice.
It is typical for a Democrat to accuse Republicans of doing what Democrats are already doing. Her campaign statement reads as if the DNC wrote the announcement for her. In addition, she did not address the elephant in the room, illegal immigration. We know, as a Democrat she will join Congressional Democrats in attempts to keep the future democrat voters in the country. Make no mistake about it, this is the hill the Democrats have chosen to die on. If Democrats win the congressional elections open borders, amnesty, doing away with ICE, and impeachments will be order of business they will immediately undertake.
Peltola’s endorsers are her real policy. If anyone thinks she is a moderate, their brain is not functioning on most levels. These endorsers know why they are endorsing her. She will follow the socialist/marxis/democrat agenda, and will follow their orders. Wait and see, Alaska, imo.
Would it really matter? With the RINO in there now?
I hope AMAC has a good contingent of voters from Alaska. The republican I wish could be unseated…but not by a democrat…is RINO Lisa Murkowski. She has been a total thorn and waste since she was re-elected. She hates the “united” part of United States of America apparently as she votes against as many conservative, God-given rights that ‘united’ us in the first place.
Demarats can do anything and get bye with it hell they have some Rep Rhinos in there pocket most of the good Rep are stepping down because of all the corruption and the pure hell they have to go through trying to get something done the phrase lets work together is a shame I think they are working together to get filthy rich of the American people period just my opinion
Ranked choice voting is a scheme devised by democrats to confuse the voters, and it works.
Petola is an extreme progressive liberal that utters conservative values, during her campaign. When elected, she did a 180* and became the liberal’s darling.
Petola is the same caliber as Spannenberger; Talk moderate campaign speeches, then, when elected do a liberal progressive agenda,
The Democrats have been engaging in voter registration and election fraud since the 1850s; yes, you read that right – for those who doubt this, it’s in the history books. In recent years, they have dramatically increased the number of methods of fraud/cheating and the scope of it. Right now, we all need to ask this question: With the approval rate for the Democrats at an all-time low (multiple polls have it at under 30%), how are the Democrats so confident that they have even a tiny chance of taking back either the House or the Senate, unless, of course, they already have the steal in place? Anyone with a good explanation?
CAN she win? Yes. If the voters are incredibly STUPID and ignore what she truly believes. They already have a semi-Democrat now with a non compos mentis pseudo-
Republican who had her friends in the legislature provide her a permanent seat!
why not ? the sluts in the democrat party helped that lying hore murkyCOWski and her daddy steal her seat REPEATEDLY RCV is a leftist vote stealing tool.. come on Alaska grow a pair and a few more brain cells
It worked with Murkowski, it’ll work with Peltola, too. Why on earth aren’t the (R)s in Congress making election integrity a major priority. It’s McConnell/Ryan all over again.
She, Warren and the whole army like them make me think there was a reason women were not allowed to vote ,feminism certainly is not a product of an everyday working class women, but spoilt, bored poor little rich girls who served themselves only, had no clue how other half lived and could not care less. Peltola is looking after her own interests. Voter should listen carefully to what she says and compare that to what she really is doing and has done. Let the record speak.
I don’t see how any democrat can get away with claiming they support fishermen when they are cozied up to the CCP and its fishing industry that destroys foreign fishing waters with its illegal practices of “fishing” within others economic zone with electricity, dynamite, and miles long nets that destroy not just the fish caught, but their fry, eggs and all other living things in the area these human versions of the Science Fiction Borg hive mind creatures visit. It is time the democrat party gets called out for their Marxist activities here, and abroad.
C’mon, Alaska. Yer one $enator is already half Dumba$$ocrat, don’t let the OTHER one lose to a full-on Dumba$$ocrat….!
This woman sounds like a carbon copy of the Maoists in state government here in New Mexico. With that in mind, NM ranks 49th or 50th for all good things they rank the states for, i.e., personal income, wages, test scores of children, etc. First or second in; crime, stagnant wages, gas prices ( in an oil producing state). There are similarities between the 2 states, small population, huge land mass, federal ownership of half of the state. All of these things do NOT warrant ANY MAOIST in any segment of our government. So it tells me that the youngest voter cohort is very ignorant of the spectrum of ideologies in America, otherwise, we would not have the national politicians we have nor would half the state and local offices have so many communists in them.
THEY LIE , THEY LIE , THEY LIE … MICHIGAN GOT ELISSA SLOTKIN WHO RAN ON BEING MODERATE .. AND I’M SURE YOU SEEN HER TV ADS , ASKING OUR MILITARY NOT TO OBEY ORDERS . THEY RUN ON A PACK OF LIES , NEVER BELIEVE THEM . I WILL NEVER VOTE DEMOCRAT AGAIN IN MY LIFETIME.
Who is Dan Sullivan?
If they do so by the RNC Estd Swamp
Democrats LIE ! They promise to be moderate then once in power go full Communism Mode! Just look at New Jersey, Virginia. Anywhere else they win.
These people are insane and power is all that matters. They turn any state into a hell.
Typical democrat – “Do as I say, not as I do.”
Alaska doesn’t need another Democrat senator, they already have Merkowski, even if she says she is a republican she acts and votes like a Democrat. I think Alaska should get rid of her too!
Talk like this from the liberal far left democrats means ONLY ONE THING, ANOTHER RIGGED ELECTION IN THE MAKING. For all their criminal corruption, over the decades that has been proven with evidence by Doge and President Trump, there is no legal way on Gods earth that they should win any seat at any level of government in a straight and legal election.
Of course they can steal the election. Being the most corrupt party in history, they will stoop to any depths to win an election.
This election must be closely watched because we don’t want the democrats in charge of anything as long as they are burning with hatred for President Trump.
The democrats want power and government control over basically everything. This leads to socialism and loss of freedom.
The Republicans are all for small government control and state’s rights.
Just keep in mind how they stole the election from Trump in 2020.
Yes, they can steal the election.
Alaska just needs to make sure their election is fair and legal.
We don’t need any more toxic democrats with any power over us.
The Democrats organization is hanging of a thread right now , Obama The mastermind of the false intelligence report ,
Biden Crime Family’s corruption, they can pay for all the illegal aliens, & most certainly not can any officials who committed treason against the USA & the American people ever be excused past, present & future.
She won by RVC and now Oklahoma one of the reddest states is putting RVC on the ballot.
Yes, they can swipe the seat, however, Alaskans should remember that the Democrats slowed the oil companies, this caused them to cut back the amount of benefits the Oil companies gave to the citizens of the state every year.
Several comments as a long-time Alaskan:
I agree with others that the only reason that she won election was ranked choice voting, which favors the middle-of-the-pack candidate.
He support against trawling is actually pro-fisherman–trawling by out of state corporate entities has caused enormous damage to seining, gillnetting and trolling, all of which are much more Alaska-based and much more important to Alaskan fishermen.
I agree that the national Democrat party has very few positions that resonate with many Alaskans, and that simple fact will make it harder for her to win in Alaska.
You can hardly expect honesty from someone who calls winning an election “swiping” a seat, as though Republicans are entitled to win it.
If Peltola and the Democrats win the Alaska Senate seat, it WON’T be because they “stole” it, but because Peltola outcampaigned her opponent, and because the population of Alaska preferred her positions over her opponent’s. Your headline makes it seem that the only way Peltola could win is something illegal happens, but Peltola has won in Alaska before, and could win again, in a free and fair election.
As a lifelong Alaskan, I have no intention of voting for Peltola. She lasted one term in the house and was booted by Alaskans in favor of Nick Begich. This Novembers race is one that Peltola will lose, Alaskans recognize a two faced phony when they see one, thats why we roundly rejected the presidency of Kamala Harris and Tim “Tampon Boy” Walz!!
Short answer – No.
If she was running against Murkowski, she’d be an improvement!
If people would oust political parties, demand an in-depth and verified questionnaire on the individual [For all who run everywhere], ban all political money, Lobbyists, and citizen confirmation of questionnaires; NS if found and proved wrong, THE CANDIDATE CANNOT BE INCLUDED. Term limits and other: No-Nos: life would be much better. As we have witnessed for far to long and particularly during Biden and now with immigration that has cost taxpayers billions, it should be removed from elections. We elect people, not some party label, who have no leadership or spines. AND IF YOU THINK THE PRESENT MESS IS WORKING YOU AR WRONG.
There is only one answer to the headline of this article… “Yes”!