Alaska’s final U.S. Senate debate devolves into mudslinging between Peltola, Sullivan

The two leading candidates for Alaska’s U.S. Senate seat met in an acrimonious televised debate Thursday night in Anchorage, where Democratic candidate Mary Peltola and Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan accused each other of lying and repeatedly spoke over each other.

“OK, let’s have some decorum here — candidates, please stop. If I have to shut mics off, I will,” said moderator and Alaska Public Media News Director Lori Townsend about 15 minutes into the event.

The debate Thursday marked the third and likely final time that Peltola and Sullivan shared a stage ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

Four candidates are on the ballot — the other two candidates are Dan J. Sullivan of Petersburg and Republican Gerald Heikes of Palmer — but Alaska Public Media, KTOO and KTUU-TV invited only Peltola and Sullivan, who each finished with more than 5% of the vote in the August primary. 

Peltola led in the primary with 49.5% of the vote, ahead of Sullivan who had 41.4%.

The two had appeared previously at a fisheries-focused forum in Kodiak and a forum hosted by the Alaska Oil and Gas Association in Anchorage. But this week’s event was televised live, and because Peltola has declined other debate requests by Sullivan, it was a rare event.

Disputes over war and military pay vote

The debate was contentious from the start. In the first question, Sullivan was asked about his views on the Iran war, which he supports. He said he views it as necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, which he said is important because Iran is a sponsor of international terrorism, including against the United States.

Peltola said peace with Iran isn’t in sight, and the best thing to do to protect the United States and its military is to get out of the fight.

“There does not seem to be a peace deal on the horizon, and I think it’s so important that our military be removed and protected,” she said.

Separately, Peltola said, “I’ll take on the rigged system that allows D.C. to wage forever wars while lining their own pockets.”

Later, Sullivan noted that after being defeated in her 2024 re-election campaign for U.S. House, Peltola worked for a lobbying firm and accused her of failing to support U.S. troops.

“She’s voted against fundraising for pay raises for our troops. And finally, she talks a lot about the rigged system. She defines the rigged system,” he said.

Peltola responded quickly. The vote Sullivan referenced was for a 2023 military defense bill that included a 5.2% pay raise but also included measures that would have limited abortion access for members of the military. 

Later negotiations resulted in a bill with the pay increase and without the abortion language. Peltola voted for that bill, as did Sullivan, when it reached the Senate.

“I voted two times in favor of the pay raise for our troops. I’m very proud of that vote. And Dan just keeps telling lies and Alaskans are sick of it,” Peltola said.

Sullivan returned to the issue in a subsequent question, saying, “My opponent did vote against our military, did vote against pay raise for our troops because she wanted more transgender surgeries for our troops.”

“I need to — that is absurd,” Peltola interjected.

Sullivan continued,  “That is an outrage. That is an outrage for our military. We need to keep building it up.”

The 2023 bill included amendments that would have limited gender-affirming healthcare for transgender troops and another that would have eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion staff and programs in the military. 

Peltola did not vote on those amendments individually but did vote against the bill that contained them and for another bill that did not contain them.

“I think that Alaskans have had it up to here with the lying and the dishonesty. Dan, you should be ashamed of yourself for propagating these lies. These were set up votes,” Peltola said.

Peltola attacks Sullivan on Social Security

Minutes later, in response to a question about Social Security, it was Peltola’s turn to attack Sullivan. 

“I will always fight for our seniors’ hard-earned benefits, and in the Senate, I’ll fight to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits. Who do you want fighting for your Social Security? A working Alaskan like me, or someone like Dan Sullivan, who has repeatedly voted to jeopardize Alaska seniors’ hard-earned benefits, including voting to raise the retirement age,” Peltola said.

In 2014, Sullivan said that it may eventually be necessary to raise the age for Social Security, but he has not voted to do so. 

“I never voted to raise the retirement age, so that’s another Mary Peltola lie, which is unfortunate and disappointing. But it’s been a hallmark of her campaign,” Sullivan said.

Last year, Sullivan voted in favor of an amendment to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — the signature tax-and-spending-cut bill of President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans — that would have stopped cuts to Social Security.

That amendment failed, and Sullivan went on to vote for the final bill, which reduces revenue for the Social Security trust fund.

Sullivan said Thursday night that he firmly believes people on Social Security must continue receiving benefits at present levels.

“I think with regard to Social Security, first and foremost, the people in Social Security, we need to make sure it’s a lockbox. They’re going to get what they continue to have. You can’t touch it,” he said.

Peltola reads from notes for most answers

For much of Thursday night’s debate, Peltola referred to detailed notes and frequently read directly from them when answering moderators’ questions, which prompted a response from Sullivan.

“Can I ask the moderator a question? We weren’t supposed to get these questions beforehand, were we?” Sullivan asked, 12 minutes into the hourlong event.

“Neither one of you got questions beforehand. Absolutely not,” Townsend replied.

“OK, I’m just watching my opponent read from questions that seem to be answered,” Sullivan answered back.

“I’m prepared,” Peltola interjected.

An extended fight over the Epstein files

Peltola and Sullivan each argued over files collected during the federal government’s investigation of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying the other has accepted contributions from people named in the federal investigation.

Ads by Peltola’s campaign and third-party groups have criticized Sullivan for voting against the public release of the files.

“One of the essential lies of the Peltola campaign was this idea that I supported not releasing the Epstein files. It’s ridiculous,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan voted several times against the files’ release but reversed course after President Donald Trump dropped his opposition to their release. The federal government has not yet fully followed through on that congressional mandate.

“I have spent my career defending survivors of domestic violence, of sexual assault, and in this case, I voted to release the Epstein files and protect the victims. She has been running this ad nonstop. It is a smear,” Sullivan said before adding that Peltola has taken money from associates of Epstein.

“That is a patent lie. That is a fabrication out of thin air,” Peltola said. “Dan Sullivan’s taken $10,000 that we know of.”

None of the people who are named in the Epstein investigation documents and are donors to either Sullivan or Peltola have been charged with any crimes. 

Candidates agree on AI, but continue sparring

Throughout the night, Peltola and Sullivan used questions as an opportunity to poke at each other. The two said they agree on some limits to artificial intelligence development, but before saying as much, Sullivan said, “My opponent keeps talking about corporate greed. Again, she defines the rigged system in D.C.,” going on to point to Peltola’s work with a lobbying firm before she registered as a Senate candidate.

“When I lost in ’24, I went to work … on Alaskan issues, municipal issues. Dan’s been in D.C. for 12 years and gotten richer every single one of those years. That’s the corruption that Alaskans are really sick of, and that’s the corruption that I’ll fight against,” Peltola said. “Dan went to D.C. with $3 million. He now has $8 million. Dan’s doing just fine, watching out for himself.”

Alaska Public Media has reported that Sullivan’s investment increase is similar to the rise in American stock market indexes generally.

Candidates were given four opportunities to offer immediate rebuttals, and Sullivan used one of his chances after that remark.

“Look, my opponent has been telling lies throughout this entire campaign, and it’s revealed character challenges. But it’s not just the lies. Take a look at how she treats Alaskans when the cameras are off,” he said, referring to a New York Times article that alleged she was physically and verbally abusive to staff during her term in Congress. 

The article also said Peltola used insulting language to refer to people who bothered her. The Alaska Beacon was able to verify some of the accounts described in the article.

Peltola interjected, denying the allegations, and tried to speak over Sullivan, but was stopped by Townsend.

Later in the debate, she said, “I do not think that this election is about me on my worst day, and I found so many of these allegations concerning and outright fabrications or mass exaggerations of the truth.”

Peltola said, “I think it’s a real sad statement that I’m such a threat as a candidate that they’re just willing to do and say anything about me to help Dan win.”