Alaska Senate Race Draws Native Voter Push and Certification Fight
WHO:
ABC News - Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, the incumbent, and Democratic candidate Mary Peltola, a Yup’ik former U.S. representative, are seeking Alaska Native voters’ support.
ABC News - The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) hosted both candidates at its conference in Anchorage. AFN endorsed Peltola in her 2022 and 2024 House races but issued no endorsement in this Senate race.
ABC News - Sealaska Corp., a regional Native corporation in southeast Alaska, endorsed both candidates, citing their “contributions and commitment to our communities” and shareholders’ diverse positions.
ABC News - Sheri Buretta, chair of the Chugach Alaska Corp. board, introduced Sullivan as “one of our strongest champions.”
ABC News - Actor and activist Dallas Goldtooth, who is Bdewakantunwan Dakota and Dine, came to Alaska to encourage conference attendees to vote. He said voters should have the opportunity to make sure their voices are counted.
CNBC - Alaskans for Mary, Peltola’s campaign, the Democratic Party’s Senate campaign committee, the League of Women Voters of Alaska, Common Cause and two individual voters sought to join a federal lawsuit challenging the Justice Department’s effort.
CNBC - Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski criticized the lawsuit, saying, “The Department of Justice should never have filed this lawsuit.”
WHAT:
ABC News - The closely watched Senate race could affect control of the U.S. Senate. Alaska Native people make up about one-fifth of the state’s population.
ABC News - Trump said he directed his administration to sue to block certification if Sullivan loses. The lawsuit concerns possible confusion with another ballot-listed candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., who has no party designation; Dan Sullivan is listed as a Republican and incumbent.
CNBC - The groups argue the executive branch lacks authority to intervene in state-run elections and that the lawsuit seeks an unprecedented override of state election administration. They challenge an investigation into whether voters choosing Daniel J. Sullivan intended to vote for the incumbent.
CNBC - Trump said, “I’m the one that said ‘do it.’”
ABC News - Peltola called for more law-enforcement resources to address missing and murdered Indigenous people and expressed support for fisheries, saying, “I will always fight to restore our fisheries.”
ABC News - Sullivan cited his work to secure land allotments for Alaska Native Vietnam War-era veterans. Peltola supports expanded oil and gas drilling and says she would work with Trump; Sullivan and allies have portrayed her as aligned with “Lower 48 liberals.”
WHERE:
ABC News - The AFN conference was held in Anchorage; Native communities across remote Alaska face voting-access challenges.
CNBC - The lawsuit concerns certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate election.
WHY:
ABC News - Advocates cite late-opening polling places and mail delays that can prevent ballots from being counted on time. Goldtooth said some voters doubt whether elections will affect them.
ABC News - Peltola said high costs linked to the Iran war are “absolutely crushing” Alaska Natives; many rural communities depend on diesel for electricity and home heating. Sullivan called the war temporary and said the “forever war is the Democrats’ war against Alaskan energy.”
HOW:
CNBC - The groups filed court requests to join the federal litigation. Their filings argue that state election administration should not be overridden by the executive branch.
ABC News - The Senate ballot lists Dan Sullivan as Republican and incumbent, while Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. appears without a party designation.
(UPDATED October 25, 2026 02:21 UTC)
Alaska’s closely watched Senate race is drawing national attention because it could affect control of the chamber, and a federal lawsuit challenges how the state certifies the vote. President Trump said he directed his administration to sue if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses, citing possible confusion with another candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan, listed without a party. Democratic candidate Mary Peltola and several voting-rights groups have asked to join the case, arguing the executive branch cannot override state election administration. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski criticized the lawsuit. At an Anchorage conference, both candidates sought support from Alaska Native voters, who make up about one-fifth of the state’s population. Peltola emphasized fisheries, missing and murdered Indigenous people, and the high cost of fuel; Sullivan highlighted veteran land allotments and support for Alaska energy. Native leaders also urged voters to participate despite barriers such as delayed mail and late-opening polling places.