Democrats’ hopes of flipping an Alaska Senate seat dimmed significantly after Sen. Lisa Murkowski announced her support for Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The endorsement came just days after Democrat Mary Peltola entered the race, dealing an early blow to Democratic momentum in what was shaping up to be a closely watched contest.
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Peltola formally launched her Senate campaign Monday, positioning herself as a high-profile challenger to Sullivan. The former congresswoman served one partial and one full term in the House and made history as the first Alaska Native elected to Congress. After narrowly losing her House seat in 2024, Democrats viewed her return as one of their strongest pickup opportunities in an otherwise difficult Senate cycle.
Early optimism surrounded Peltola’s candidacy, with analysts suggesting Alaska could move into competitive territory for Democrats. Political forecasters pointed to her statewide name recognition and crossover appeal as factors that could make the race viable. That enthusiasm, however, quickly cooled following Murkowski’s decision to back Sullivan.
Murkowski, a longtime political power broker in Alaska, said her endorsement was about maintaining Republican control of the Senate. She praised Sullivan’s record and emphasized their years of working together. The move was particularly damaging to Democrats because Murkowski had previously supported Peltola in past races and initially declined to take sides, leaving open the possibility of another break from party lines.
Sullivan enters the race with significant advantages, including President Donald Trump’s endorsement and a strong fundraising operation that has already brought in $6 million. He has also taken steps to blunt Peltola’s appeal by supporting policies popular in Alaska, including extending health insurance subsidies and advancing legislation to limit bycatch that affects salmon fisheries.
With Murkowski’s backing, Sullivan gains a powerful boost among moderate and independent voters, making Peltola’s uphill climb even steeper. The race will begin with a nonpartisan primary in August, followed by a ranked-choice general election in November. For Democrats hoping Alaska would deliver a surprise Senate pickup, Murkowski’s endorsement has made that path far more difficult.[/read]