Alaska Senate Race Comes Onto the Competitive Board with Peltola’s Entry
Center For Politics • • nation
Key Points:
- Mary Peltola’s entry into the Alaska Senate race shifts the contest from Safe Republican to Leans Republican, giving Democrats a credible candidate against incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.
- Peltola's previous success in Alaska's congressional races, aided by ranked-choice voting and voter dynamics, suggests she could perform better in a favorable 2026 environment despite Alaska's Republican lean.
- Both Alaska and Ohio Senate races are rated Leans Republican, reflecting the challenges Democrats face in winning double-digit Trump states, though strong Democratic candidates like Peltola and Sherrod Brown show crossover appeal.
- Democrats need to flip seats in traditionally Republican states like Alaska and Ohio to achieve a Senate majority, as holding current seats and likely pickups in Maine and North
