Alaska Senate Race 2026

Compare candidates running in this Alaska federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.

Richard Grayson

Party: Independent (No Labels Party)

Dustin Darden

Party: Republican

Mary Peltola

Party: Democrat

Dan Sullivan

Party: Republican

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Alaska Senate Race

Election: Nov 3, 2026Updated: Apr 6, 2026
📊Polling+5 Peltola (first-round); +4 Peltola (RCV final)
Peltola leads Sullivan in latest polls. Alaska Survey Research (March 19-22) shows Peltola ahead 46-41 in first round, 52-48 in ranked-choice final round. Earlier PPP poll (January 2026) showed Peltola leading 49-47.
Source: Alaska Survey Research2026-03-22
46%
Peltola
41%
Sullivan
lean r★ Flip Potential— Cook Political Report

Alaska is one of Democrats' few credible targets to flip a Republican Senate seat. Flipping Alaska along with Ohio and other seats is critical to Democrats' path to taking back Senate control.

Richard GraysonO
Dustin DardenR
Mary PeltolaD
Dan SullivanR

Summary

Richard Grayson is an author and perennial candidate running under the No Labels Party designation for Alaska's U.S. Senate seat in 2026. Limited public information is available about Grayson's platform, background, or campaign activities. He has pledged to support campaign finance reform through the For Our Freedom Amendment, supporting a constitutional amendment to address citizens United v. FEC and restrict political spending.

Dustin Darden is a 38-year-old journeyman carpenter and city maintenance worker from Anchorage running as a Republican in Alaska's 2026 Senate primary. Darden is a perennial candidate and political activist known for outbursts at public meetings, conspiracy theories, and devotion to Alex Jones' InfoWars. Since 2011, he has run for office 10 times at local, state, and federal levels, averaging 6% of the vote in competitive races. He is affiliated with 1776 Alaska and has authored a petition initiative on water fluoridation discontinuation (approved in 2016). Darden's platform emphasizes constitutional rights, liberty, prosecution of public corruption, and religious themes, positioning himself as fighting a 'siege' against America's freedoms.

Mary Peltola is a Democrat running for U.S. Senate after serving one partial term and one full term in the U.S. House (2022-2025), becoming the first Alaska Native person elected to Congress and the first Democratic woman to represent Alaska. She grew up on the Kuskokwim River in Western Alaska in Yup'ik communities and spent her career advocating for fisheries, rural Alaska, and anti-corruption reforms. After losing her House seat to Republican Nick Begich in 2024 by a narrow margin (49% vs 51%), Peltola was heavily recruited by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to challenge incumbent Dan Sullivan. She is viewed positively across Alaska demographics and has the highest approval rating of any elected official in the state according to 2025 polling.

Dan Sullivan is the incumbent Republican U.S. Senator from Alaska, first elected in 2014 and reelected in 2020 with 53.9% of the vote. Born in Ohio, Sullivan earned degrees from Harvard University and Georgetown University Law Center, and served as a Marine Corps officer. He previously served as Alaska's Attorney General (2009-2010) and Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources (2010-2013). Sullivan is a strong Trump supporter and has received the former president's full endorsement for his 2026 reelection bid.

Campaign Promises

Justice
  • Campaign Finance Reform via Constitutional Amendment
Other
  • Constitutional Rights Protection
  • God-Based Governance
Justice
  • Prosecution of Corrupt Public Officials
  • Judicial Branch Over Legislative
Other
  • Fish, Family, Freedom
  • Alaska-First Governance
Justice
  • Fixing the Rigged System
Economy
  • Reducing Cost of Living
  • Balanced Resource Development
Environment
  • Support for Fisheries Reform
Economy
  • Alaska Comeback through Resource Development
  • Working Families Tax Cuts Act
Defense
  • Strong National Defense
Environment
  • Bycatch Reduction

Key Issue Positions

Campaign Finance Reform
Supports constitutional amendment
Grayson has pledged to support the For Our Freedom Amendment, a constitutional reform addressing Citizens United v. FEC and restricting political spending.
Constitutional Rights and Government Overreach
Strong constitutional conservatism with conspiratorial elements
Darden frames government as fundamentally corrupted, with 'forces working to strip away our God-given freedoms from within,' suggesting a siege mentality about America's condition.
Public Corruption
Combating alleged systemic corruption
Advocates for grand jury prosecution of public officials outside normal prosecutorial channels, suggesting existing system is too compromised.
Water Fluoridation
Opposes fluoridation
Authored successful petition initiative to discontinue water fluoridation in 2016, suggesting public health skepticism.
Fisheries and Salmon Protection
Strong protector of Alaska fisheries
Peltola prioritizes protecting salmon stocks from commercial overfishing and bycatch, addressing the declining fish returns that have impacted Alaska Native communities. She grew up fishing and views fisheries as central to Alaska identity.
Cost of Living
Address rising costs through anti-corruption reform
Peltola argues high Alaska costs result from 'rigged system' in Washington where politicians prioritize special interests over constituents. She proposes transparency and anti-corruption measures to lower prices.
Anti-Corruption and Government Reform
Aggressive anti-corruption stance
Peltola advocates 12-year congressional term limits, ban on stock trading by Congress, DISCLOSE Act for donation transparency, and constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United v. FEC.
Alaska Representation
Alaska-first, not party-first representation
Emphasizes moderate, pragmatic approach willing to break party line when Alaska interests differ, citing examples of standing up to Democratic party on oil development and other issues.
Healthcare and Medicaid
Opposes Medicaid cuts
Criticizes Sullivan's support for Republican budget bills that cut Medicaid, potentially affecting 12,000 Alaskans. Has endorsement from SEIU 775 nursing home workers union.
Reproductive Rights
Pro-choice
Supports codifying Roe v. Wade protections and has stated commitment to protecting women's reproductive freedom.
LGBTQ+ Rights
Strong LGBTQ+ supporter
Voted against bill restricting transgender participation in sports; criticized bill as 'bullying' the transgender community and describing efforts to make their lives harder as inappropriate.
Oil and Gas Development
Strong supporter
Sullivan strongly supports opening more areas of the North Slope to oil and gas drilling and backing the trans-Alaska natural gas pipeline project.
Taxes and Spending
Support tax cuts and spending restraint
Sullivan backed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act with large personal tax cuts, though it included cuts to Medicaid that could affect up to 12,000 Alaskans.
Healthcare
Supports Medicaid cuts in Republican budget plans
Sullivan touted a $1.4 billion rural health care fund but was unaware of restrictions limiting how Alaska can use the funds to address key issues like self-employed premiums and housing for healthcare workers.
Climate Change
Skeptical of scientific consensus
Sullivan rejects the scientific consensus on climate change and argues the verdict is still out on human contribution to climate change.
Election Integrity
Supports election security measures like SAVE Act
Sullivan advocates for voter ID requirements and has presented arguments emphasizing election security, though critics argue the claims overstate the scope of actual noncitizen voting.

Top Donors

No donor data available.

No fundraising reported
$0N/A
Darden has not reported raising any money for campaigns
First Day Fundraising
$1.5 millionSmall Donor
Raised in first 24 hours after campaign announcement through online fundraising
Small Individual Donors
Majority of fundsIndividual
Campaign emphasizes grassroots small donor base
Senate Majority PAC
$1 million+ in outside spendingSuper PAC
Schumer-aligned super PAC spending $1 million in 2025 on ads against Sullivan; expected to increase significantly
Majority Forward
Mid-six-figure ad buySuper PAC
501(c)(4) associated with Schumer, launched March 2026 campaign targeting Sullivan on high prices
Trident Seafoods
$72,020Individual/Corporate
Alaska seafood industry
Large Individual Contributions
58.43%Individual
Primary source of funds
PAC Contributions
22.48%Industry PAC
Corporate and trade association PACs
Teamsters Local 959
EndorsementLabor Union
Represents 5,000+ workers statewide

Contradictions

No contradictions documented.

No contradictions documented.

Claim: Peltola positions herself as defending Alaska interests against Washington special interests
Contradiction: She quoted Ted Stevens saying 'To hell with politics, put Alaska first' but misquoted him—Stevens' actual phrase was 'To hell with politics, just do what's right for Alaska.' The slight modification subtly changes the meaning to align more with populist 'Alaska first' framing.
Source: Alaska Public Media, January 2026
Claim: Peltola supports resource development for Alaska (e.g., Willow Project)
Contradiction: While supporting Willow, she also advocates for fisheries protection and ecosystem prioritization that could limit some resource development projects, creating tension with full-throated resource development agenda.
Source: Wikipedia, Campaign materials
Claim: Peltola ran for House without Republican opposition from Sarah Palin in 2024
Contradiction: In 2022 special election, Palin was a major opponent; in 2024 reelection, she faced Nick Begich (not Palin), suggesting different competitive dynamics than implied in some framing.
Source: Wikipedia
Claim: Sullivan claimed the Big Beautiful Bill would strengthen Alaska's health care system
Contradiction: Independent analysis indicated up to 12,000 Alaskans could lose Medicaid coverage under the legislation, and Sullivan was unaware of restrictions on how Alaska could use the $1.4 billion rural health care fund.
Source: Alaska Beacon, February 2026
Claim: Sullivan presents himself as defending election integrity through the SAVE Act
Contradiction: Critics note noncitizen voting is already illegal in federal elections with only roughly 77 confirmed cases over two decades. Sullivan's framing elevates a marginal concern into a primary justification for new voting restrictions.
Source: Homer News, April 2026
Claim: Sullivan claims to put Alaska first while supporting Trump's agenda
Contradiction: Sullivan voted to cut public broadcasting funding that many Alaskans rely on, voted for budget cuts affecting healthcare, and has not criticized Trump's controversial policies like the Greenland purchase or ICE detention policies affecting Alaskans.
Source: Alaska Beacon, February 2026
Claim: Sullivan opposed Trump's candidacy in 2016, citing sexual assault concerns
Contradiction: By 2020, Sullivan endorsed Trump, voted to acquit him in impeachment trials, and by 2025 enthusiastically defended Trump administration policies.
Source: Wikipedia, Congressional record

What Opponents Say

No opponent claims documented.

No opponent claims documented.

Dan Sullivan Campaign

Peltola didn't pass a single bill during her time in Congress

Sullivan campaign criticism that Peltola is ineffective, though she did pass her Office of Food Security bill and co-sponsored other measures

National Republican Senatorial Committee

Peltola is out of step with Alaska voters on cost of living and government solutions

NRSC began attack campaign immediately after Peltola's announcement, suggesting her anti-corruption focus doesn't address Alaska's actual economic challenges

Sullivan Campaign

Peltola's corruption-focused platform won't lower Alaska costs

Implicit criticism that Peltola's proposed reforms (term limits, campaign finance rules) are insufficient to address high prices Alaskans face

Mary Peltola

Sullivan keeps voting yes with his party leaders, no matter how much it hurts Alaska

Democratic ad highlighting high gas prices ($4.23 in Alaska, up 70 cents) and suggesting Sullivan prioritizes party loyalty over Alaskan costs of living

Mary Peltola

Sullivan cut funding to public media stations that many Alaskans rely on

Peltola criticized Sullivan's vote to rescind public broadcasting funding as part of larger Republican agenda that harms Alaska

Democratic State Senator Forrest Dunbar

Sullivan gives partisan speeches without critiquing Trump administration failures

Dunbar noted Sullivan's legislative address was 'the most partisan speech' ever given, with no critique of Trump's cancellation of Alaska projects or threats to democracy

Endorsements

No endorsements listed.

No endorsements listed.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumerindividual
EMILYs Listorganization
Alaska Democratic Party Chair Eric Croftindividual
SEIU 775organization
Alaska Democratic Partyorganization
Senate Majority PACorganization
Donald Trumpindividual
Lisa Murkowskiindividual
State Senator Lyman Hoffman (D-Bethel)individual
National Republican Senatorial Committeeorganization
Last Frontier Actionorganization
View Richard Grayson's Full Profile →View Dustin Darden's Full Profile →View Mary Peltola's Full Profile →View Dan Sullivan's Full Profile →