Sen. Sullivan confident he’ll win re-election over Peltola

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Sen. Dan Sullivan is confident he’ll win reelection.

He’s also confident Mary Peltola, the Democrat running against him, lies.

Alaska’s News Source met him at a campaign headquarters in Wasilla Thursday evening to ask about a New York Times article alleging operatives aligned with the Peltola campaign recruited candidates to take votes from Sullivan, the Republican incumbent. One allegation was having a man with the same name on the ballot, Dan J. Sullivan from Petersburg.

The Peltola campaign has denied involvement in the Dan J. Sullivan campaign, adding that the Republican party has “been caught multiple times propping up third party ‘spoiler’ candidates in Alaska.”

Alaska’s News Source asked Sullivan, based on their previous working relationship working in Congress, would Peltola support the actions she’s accused of within the Times article.

“Yes,” Sullivan said.

Asked again, Sullivan replied, “absolutely.”

MORE: As government investigates Democrat involvement in Dan J. Sullivan candidacy, does collusion break the law?

“Look, campaigns reveal character,” Sullivan said. “I worked with her, right? This campaign, her go-to place in this campaign is lies. We even have a website called PeltolaLies.com. Why does she have to do that? Why is she consistently lying? Because she’s got no record to run on.”

Peltola served in the U.S. House alongside Sullivan and Sen. Lisa Murkowski from 2022 to 2024. She lost her re-election to Nick Begich III.

By now, Alaskans have been snowed under by countless ads from both campaigns and third parties saying the nastiest things about each candidate. The ads from Outside elections can be even meaner.

So are the accusations in the article just what is expected from people running for office at this point?

“It’s not what I do,” Sullivan said. “I mean, I’ve run Senate campaigns before. It’s not what I’ve done.

“And look, I think some people are cynical, but I think Alaskans expect more from their elected representatives. And they certainly want their elected representatives to tell the truth. And in my view, truth at the end of the day wins, which is why we’re going to win.”

He also said the article reveals character flaws about Peltola. Alaska’s News Source asked Sullivan about aligning himself with President Trump, who also has been accused of having questionable character flaws.

“Well, look, the president has won reelection in Alaska by strong, strong margins,” Sullivan said.

He went on to say Trump can’t run to be president again.

“I’m focused on my election, and I think, and my opponent,” he said.

An email to a Peltola campaign spokesperson on Thursday had not been returned at the time of publication.

Wednesday evening, they sent a statement: “The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. The Republican party has been caught multiple times propping up third party ‘spoiler’ candidates in Alaska.”

Alaska’s News Source went to Homer on Tuesday to interview Peltola — who was hosting a rally for her supporters — after a lawsuit was filed by President Trump’s Justice Department to block certification of the U.S. Senate race in Alaska if Sullivan narrowly loses.

The request for an interview wasn’t granted, but a photographer caught up with her in the parking lot.

“I have every confidence that Alaskan voters know what they’re doing, and I believe in the rule of law and free and fair elections,” Peltola said. “I have all the faith that this is going to get sorted out in the right way.”