Peltola moves toward Senate run against Sullivan, report says

Former Rep. Mary Peltola is likely to run against Sen. Dan Sullivan for the U.S. Senate with an announcement expected this month, the news website Axios reported Tuesday.

Peltola, who served one term in the U.S. House, has been quiet about her plans for 2026 with speculation for months about whether she would run for governor, the U.S. Senate or sit this one out.

Axios reported she has been interviewing potential campaign managers. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has been pressuring Peltola, who has considerable political strengths, to take on Sullivan.

“Landing Peltola in Alaska would give Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer another opportunity to go on offense in 2026, as he looks to recruit his way out of a difficult map,” Axios said.

In an interview with Northern Journal, Sen. Lisa Murkowski was asked if a run by Peltola would put her in a tough spot—she has endorsed Peltola in the past and has also endorsed Sullivan in the past.

"If she were to run against my colleague, yeah – it puts me in a difficult spot," Sen. Lisa Murkowski told the Northern Journal earlier. "But I also think it puts a lot of Alaskans in a difficult spot.”

Murkowski said it would be a tough race, which is certainly true. Peltola would be a credible candidate.

“I think it would be a very, very, very hard race. I think it'd be hard on people in this state. And again, I don't like the idea of, just, a really nasty, nasty race at the Senate level. I have said many times very publicly that Mary is my friend. I want Mary to do what's going to make Mary happy. And only Mary can determine that,” Murkowski said.

Murkowski backed Sullivan in 2014 and 2020. In 2022, Sullivan mentioned his support for her about as often as he praised Joe Biden. He said he supported Murkowski at least once, however, which was enough to anger Trump.

When Trump called Murkowski a “disloyal and very bad senator,” what did Sullivan say? Nothing.

When Trump said Murkowski "represents her state badly and her country even worse,” what did Sullivan say? Nothing.

When Trump appeared in Anchorage in 2022, he repeatedly insulted Murkowski and Sullivan never said a word later to correct Trump’s lies or defend Murkowski.

In an extended rant about Murkowski, Trump said, And that piece of (mouthing a word he wouldn’t say aloud) voted to impeach me.”

Trump said Sullivan “should be ashamed of himself” for endorsing Murkowski. He attacked Sullivan for refusing to denounce Murkowski.

Trump also portrayed Sullivan as betraying him. He said Sullivan called him in 2020 when he was down 8 points in the polls asking for help and with Trump’s endorsement Sullivan ended up winning reelection.

Sullivan has never criticized Trump or called out any of Trump’s lies. Trump has endorsed him.

Sullivan counts pro-Trump Alaskans as his major base of support, while the Republican Party treats Murkowski like a traitor and her support among Democrats and independents waxes and wanes.

Trump’s erratic behavior and mental decline will be a major issue in the Senate campaign whether Peltola runs or not. Sullivan will claim all that really counts is how much money is coming to Alaska and the chance for resource development.

There are many Alaskans, however, who realize that a great deal more is at stake than the tally of Alaska pork. The future of the nation is at risk because of Trump.