A combative debate in Alaska
The two leading candidates for Alaska's Senate seat met Thursday night in a debate that, according to NBC News, at times turned into personal attacks. Topics ranged from the war with Iran to controversies from Democratic nominee Mary Peltola's time in Congress.
Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan portrayed Peltola as someone who pursued a lobbying paycheck after her House service ended in 2025. Peltola, for her part, tried to link Sullivan's backing of the Iran war to higher living costs and pointed to the growth in his personal wealth while in office.
Iran, prices and Russian fuel
Asked about Iran, both candidates said the conflict should wrap up soon. Peltola blamed the ongoing fighting for rising prices at home, an issue NBC News noted polling has shown to be a burden for Republicans heading into the midterms. She said no peace deal appeared to be on the horizon and stressed that U.S. troops should be removed and protected.
Sullivan said he supports President Donald Trump's war powers in Iran because "the largest state sponsor of terrorism should not have nuclear weapons." He added, "But it needs to end soon. The energy costs from this war are too high." He argued that boosting domestic energy production would help bring costs down.
Sullivan also broke from the Trump administration when asked about the White House's recent decision to allow Russian diesel fuel onto the global market. "I just led the effort on a Russia sanctions act that passed the Congress, so I'm opposed to that," he said. NBC News noted that other Republicans in tight races have taken a similar approach in recent debates. He also voiced opposition to the Pentagon's now-withdrawn plan to livestream the execution of convicted terrorist Nidal Hasan, saying a livestream would "create more terrorists."
Lobbying, wealth and the Times report
The sharpest exchanges centered on each candidate's record. Sullivan criticized Peltola's lobbying work after she lost the state's at-large House seat in 2024, saying, "Mary, you're walking through the revolving door so much you must be getting dizzy up here."
Peltola answered by citing his finances. "Dan's been in D.C. for 12 years and has gotten richer every single one of those years," she said, referring to his two terms as senator.
Sullivan then pointed to a recent New York Times article describing turmoil in Peltola's congressional office and campaign, including angry outbursts and offensive language. He said a number of staffers had quit and called the matter a character flaw. Asked directly about the reporting, Peltola said, "I don't think this election is about me on my worst day." She described the stories as "allegations" and "mass exaggerations of the truth."
The state of the race
NBC News rates the contest a toss-up, and it is among a handful of races that could determine Senate control in November. Democrats see Alaska as one of five potential pickup opportunities, even though Trump carried the state by double digits in 2024.
Trump held a rally in Wasilla in support of Sullivan just days before the debate, and Vice President JD Vance visited Fairbanks earlier this month. Even so, Trump was largely absent from Thursday's discussion, unlike debates in other high-profile races.
Alaska last sent a Democrat to the Senate in 2008, when Mark Begich unseated incumbent Republican Ted Stevens. In August's all-party primary, Peltola finished ahead with 49.5% of the vote to Sullivan's 41.4%. A second Republican candidate also named Dan Sullivan received 2.5%. He has denied Republican accusations that his candidacy is a ploy to confuse voters. Dan J. Sullivan did not take part in the debate but will appear on the November ballot.
