Personal attacks fly as Sullivan, Peltola spar over corruption, character and controversy
Alaska’s Senate Race Comes Down to a Last‑Night Debate
On Thursday night, the final televised debate of Alaska’s 2024 U.S. Senate race brought former Representative Mary Peltola and incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan into a heated exchange that reflected the surprisingly tight race. Fox News Power Rankings, which now consider the contest a “toss‑up,” highlighted the narrowing partisan edge that has drawn national attention.
A Battle of the Books
The two candidates confronted each other over a wide range of topics: energy costs, the ongoing conflict in Iran, Social Security reform, health‑care policy, and military spending. A handful of moments, however, dominated the proceedings.
Sullivan attacked Peltola for her post‑legislative work as a Washington lobbyist, arguing that she “made almost half a million last year” by selling her expertise. He said the former congresswoman had “set up a lobbying firm” after leaving the state legislature. Peltola countered by pointing to Sullivan’s wealth growth, noting that the senator’s net worth had risen from $3 million when he first entered Congress to $8 million after twelve years in Washington. She accused him of benefiting from the “revolving door” system that has “made him richer every single year.”
When the moderators confirmed that neither candidate had received the questions in advance, Sullivan quipped, “You’re walking through the revolving door so much, you must be getting dizzy up here.” The remark was followed by a brief exchange in which Peltola insisted the moderators had “not given us any pre‑released questions.”
Allegations and Reactions
Sullivan then turned to a New York Times story that detailed anonymous staffers’ claims of physical and verbal mistreatment by Peltola. He said, “Look at that New York Times story… 25 staffers quit on Mary Peltola because she abused them physically and emotionally.” Peltola’s campaign dismissed the claims as “gossip” and “unfounded,” and her spokesperson noted that some of the alleged incidents occurred during a period of extreme grief following the deaths of her mother and husband in 2023.
When Peltola asked for decorum, a moderator interrupted her to remind her of the time limits. She then responded, “I need to rebut that, that is absurd,” after Sullivan accused her of blocking military pay raises over transgender medical procedures. Peltola said she had voted in the National Defense Authorization Act in ways that protected troops and had, on three other occasions, voted “hard yes” in support of the armed services.
A Moment of Civility
As the debate drew to a close, moderators asked each candidate to say something positive about the other. Sullivan recalled that his wife had invited Peltola to his Marine Corps retirement ceremony, saying, “…Mary Peltola attended, so I thank her for that.” Peltola replied, “One, you know, three wonderful attributes of Dan and Julie are their lovely daughters,” adding a note of mutual respect.
The Bigger Picture
Alaska has long leaned Republican, but the margin between GOP and Democratic candidates has narrowed in recent election cycles. The final debate underscores the closeness of the race, with each side sharpening accusations while still finding moments of civility. The outcome will be decided at the ballot box in November, but the intensity of the campaign—reflected in the heated debate—suggests that a few key issues could tip the balance.