ANCHORAGE, Alaska — In a fiercely contested debate that repeatedly descended into personal accusations, Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democratic challenger Mary Peltola sparred over the conflict in Iran, skyrocketing living expenses and each other’s ethical records as both campaign to represent Alaska in the U.S. Senate.
The debate on Thursday, moderated by Alaska Public Media, KTOO and Alaska’s News Source, grew so contentious that moderator Lori Townsend threatened to cut off the participants’ microphones. Sullivan, who is seeking a third term, questioned why Peltola was looking down at notes, asking if questions had been shared in advance. Townsend clarified that neither candidate received questions beforehand, and Peltola responded that she simply arrived prepared.
Economic Strain and Foreign Policy Clashes
Peltola, who served in the U.S. House from 2022 until early 2025 after becoming the first Alaska Native elected to Congress, repeatedly connected Sullivan to economic hardships confronting residents. She blamed inflation and surging fuel prices on the eight-month-old military campaign in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Peltola noted that 20 American service members have died and called for U.S. forces to be withdrawn, arguing that no peace agreement appeared near, according to NBC News and the Anchorage Daily News.
Sullivan acknowledged that energy expenses tied to the conflict are excessively steep, yet he defended President Donald Trump’s war powers. Sullivan argued that Tehran represents the premier state sponsor of terrorism and must never secure a nuclear weapon. To alleviate costs, the senator championed ramping up domestic extraction, citing his work to expand drilling and royal revenue opportunities in areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Peltola pushed back, arguing that she supported local resource projects during her House tenure, including ConocoPhillips’ Willow development.
Sullivan also created distance from the Trump administration on certain policy maneuvers. When questioned about the White House permitting Russian diesel into the global market, Sullivan highlighted his recent authorship of a Russia sanctions measure and said he opposed the administration’s decision, NBC News reported.
Personal Accusations and National Attention
The exchanges quickly turned to personal attacks regarding money and office management. Sullivan accused Peltola of capitalizing on her Capitol Hill tenure by earning nearly half a million dollars as a federal lobbyist once her term ended. Peltola responded that her work remained focused in Anchorage on municipal matters, turning scrutiny back onto Sullivan by contending his net worth surged from $3 million to $8 million during 12 years in Washington.
Sullivan cited reporting by The New York Times detailing workplace turmoil, high turnover and harsh conduct inside Peltola’s congressional operations. Peltola dismissed those reports as mischaracterizations and exaggerations, replying that voters are not choosing someone based on their worst day.
The race remains pivotal as Democrats target the seat as one of five key pickup chances nationwide in a state Trump won by double digits in 2024, NBC News reported. Peltola led Sullivan in the multi-candidate August primary with 49.5 percent against Sullivan’s 41.4 percent. A second Republican candidate named Dan Sullivan claimed 2.5 percent, prompting Trump to claim Tuesday that the identical name was a Democratic ploy, Fox News reported. Federal campaign filings show Peltola raised $32.6 million compared to Sullivan’s $13.9 million, though both campaigns and outside groups continue pouring millions into advertising.
With general election ballots already arriving in voters’ mailboxes, both parties will see whether voter frustration over living costs or Sullivan’s alignment with national Republicans decides the outcome in November.
