Alaska voters turn away from Trump as Peltola mounts competitive challenge
Donald Trump’s visit to Alaska to support Republican Senator Dan Sullivan has highlighted signs that the state may be less reliably Republican than in recent elections. Some longtime Trump voters are voicing frustration with him, while Sullivan’s Democratic challenger, Mary Peltola, is mounting a competitive campaign.
Trump won Alaska by 13 points in 2024, but polls have given Peltola a slight edge in some cases, and the Senate race is rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report. Peltola’s campaign reported raising more than $17 million in the third quarter. Strategists say Sullivan’s close association with Trump could be a liability as voters face high living costs and rising diesel prices; Trump and Sullivan have described the effects of the Iran war as temporary.
- Trump’s support may be complicating Sullivan’s re-election campaign.
- Peltola reported more than $17 million in third-quarter donations.
- Alaska’s Senate race is rated a toss-up.
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Alaska is a large, sparsely populated state where long distances and harsh weather make transport and energy especially important. Many communities rely on fuel for heating and for moving goods, so changes in diesel prices can affect household costs and local businesses.
The state has often voted Republican in presidential elections, and Donald Trump won it in 2024. Its Senate seat is held by Republican Dan Sullivan, who is seeking another term; his challenger, Democrat Mary Peltola, previously represented Alaska in the US House.
The race matters because senators help shape national laws and confirm senior officials, while also representing their state’s interests in Washington. Voters’ views on living costs and the candidates’ links to national politics may influence how they choose between Sullivan and Peltola.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Peltola’s competitive campaign may reflect real frustration with Trump among some Alaskans, alongside concern about living costs and diesel prices. Voters could reasonably see Sullivan’s close ties to Trump as linking him to policies they believe are not addressing those pressures, while Peltola’s fundraising and polling suggest she has built a credible alternative.
The case against
Alaska backed Trump by 13 points in 2024, and that durable Republican support could still favour Sullivan despite signs of voter frustration. Sullivan’s supporters may value his alignment with the president and accept their argument that the effects of the Iran war on prices are temporary; polls and fundraising indicate a competitive race but do not settle its outcome.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Trump’s 13-point Alaska stronghold slipping away as his own voter orders president to ‘shut his mouth’”.