Mary Peltola Widens Lead in Alaska Senate Race

Democrat Mary Peltola is widening her lead over incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in the race for Alaska's U.S. Senate seat. Recent polling shows Peltola leading by 2 to 7 percentage points, with some rankings shifting the contest from a toss-up to leaning Democratic. Prediction markets currently estimate Peltola's chance of winning at 74 percent.

President Donald Trump visited Alaska on October 12 to support Sullivan's reelection bid. During a rally in the Matnuaska-Susitna Valley, Trump and Sullivan framed the election as a choice between economic development and the federal policies of the Joe Biden administration regarding mining, oil, and gas. Trump also urged voters to repeal the state's ranked-choice voting system, which Republicans argue complicates the race.

Sullivan has linked Peltola to national Democratic leadership, claiming her victory would grant the opposition control of the Senate. The campaign is further complicated by the presence of a second candidate also named Dan Sullivan, whom Republicans describe as a decoy intended to confuse voters. Key issues driving the electorate include the commercial fishing industry and the high cost of living and fuel, which have been exacerbated by the U.S. war with Iran.