Former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) is quietly preparing for a potential U.S. Senate run in Alaska, including interviewing possible campaign managers, according to a report from Axios. Sources familiar with the matter say Peltola is expected to formally enter the race against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan later this month.
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Peltola, who lost her House seat in 2024, would immediately become a top Democratic target as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer searches for offensive opportunities in what is shaping up to be a difficult 2026 map for Democrats. Schumer has reportedly encouraged Peltola to run since last summer and believes Alaska could offer a rare pickup opportunity.
The former congresswoman won two House races before narrowly losing last year to Rep. Nick Begich under Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system. However, the broader political environment remains challenging for Democrats. President Donald Trump carried Alaska by 13 points in 2024, underscoring the uphill battle facing any Democrat running statewide.
According to Axios, Peltola has been interviewing prospective campaign managers but has been vague about whether the position would be tied to a Senate or gubernatorial run. Still, she has privately indicated to allies that she is leaning toward a Senate bid. Peltola and one of her top aides declined to comment, as did the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Republicans are already preparing for her entry. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has spent months anticipating a Peltola candidacy and is expected to quickly deploy opposition messaging once she officially announces. Groups aligned with Schumer spent roughly $1.5 million last cycle attempting to weaken Sullivan, including a holiday-themed ad campaign accusing him of driving up costs.
After her 2024 defeat, Peltola joined the law firm Holland & Hart as senior director of Alaska affairs, a role that includes work related to the firm’s lobbying practice. Due to a one-year cooling-off period, she is prohibited from lobbying her former colleagues in Congress. While Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system has previously given Democrats an opening in a red-leaning state, Sullivan currently faces no serious primary challenge, allowing him to focus squarely on a general election fight Democrats are eager to test.[/read]