JUNEAU, Alaska — Former Rep. Mary Peltola is distancing herself from an endorsement by former Vice President Kamala Harris as the Alaska Democrat tries to unseat Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in one of the races that could help determine control of the Senate.
Harris’s Fight for the People PAC sent supporters a fundraising email Wednesday urging donations to Peltola and declaring that “if there’s anyone who can flip Alaska and secure the Senate majority for Democrats — it’s Mary.”
Peltola’s campaign quickly made clear it had not sought the endorsement. A spokesperson told The New York Times that the campaign neither approved nor knew about the email beforehand and said Peltola “isn’t seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48.”
The distancing reflects Alaska’s difficult political terrain for Democrats. Donald Trump carried the state comfortably in 2024, while Peltola has built her political brand around independence from the national party. She notably declined to endorse Harris during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Republicans immediately sought to tie Peltola to Harris, with Sullivan’s campaign arguing the endorsement showed which political “team” she represents.
Peltola, however, has previously demonstrated an ability to win statewide in Republican-leaning Alaska, becoming the first Alaska Native elected to Congress in 2022. She lost her House seat in 2024 but is now considered one of Democrats’ most important Senate recruits. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 Senate majority, meaning Democrats need a net gain of four seats to take control.
The episode underscores Peltola’s challenge: benefiting from national Democratic resources without allowing Republicans to define her as a conventional national Democrat.
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