Former Rep. Mary Peltola is taking concrete steps toward a possible U.S. Senate run, including quietly interviewing potential campaign managers, according to people familiar with the matter.
Peltola is expected to formally announce a challenge to Sen. Dan Sullivan later this month, setting the stage for one of Democrats’ most closely watched recruitment efforts ahead of the 2026 midterms. For Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Peltola candidacy would represent a rare chance to play offense on a difficult map.
Peltola won two House elections in Alaska before narrowly losing her seat in 2024 to Rep. Nick Begich under the state’s ranked-choice voting system. That same year, President Donald Trump carried Alaska by 13 percentage points, underscoring the uphill climb facing any Democrat running statewide.
People familiar with the discussions say Peltola has been deliberately noncommittal while interviewing potential campaign managers, leaving open whether the role would be for a Senate or gubernatorial bid. But she has also privately indicated to allies that she is leaning toward a Senate run. Peltola and one of her top aides did not respond to requests for comment, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee declined to comment.
Republicans, however, are already bracing for her entry. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has been preparing for months and is expected to roll out attack lines quickly once Peltola makes her move.
Democratic-aligned nonprofit groups associated with Schumer spent roughly $1.5 million last year targeting Sullivan, including a Grinch-themed holiday ad accusing him of driving up costs for Alaskans. Those early investments suggest national Democrats view the race as at least plausible, even in a red-leaning state.
After losing her House seat, Peltola joined the law firm Holland & Hart in March 2025 as senior director of Alaska affairs. She is currently subject to a one-year cooling-off period that bars her from lobbying her former congressional colleagues.
The broader calculus hinges on Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, which can allow a Democrat to win statewide if Republican support fractures. While Sullivan has not yet drawn a serious GOP primary challenger, Democrats believe Peltola’s crossover appeal and statewide profile give her a credible path — and a rare opportunity to scramble expectations in Alaska politics.
