EXCLUSIVE — National Republicans have cut an ad for Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), marking the GOP’s first entry into a relatively safe 2026 midterm seat, which could turn competitive with a potential challenge from former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola.
The roughly 30-second spot, first seen by the Washington Examiner, is from the Senate GOP’s campaign arm and touts Sullivan’s support for President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The ad spotlights “permanent Republican tax cuts” and new access to federal lands in Alaska for oil production, which are included in Trump’s signature domestic policy agenda, which recently became law.
“That means billions in new revenue, fueling a new era of Alaskan growth,” it says.
The video rollout is accompanied by a new pro-Sullivan website that the National Republican Senatorial Committee is also funding and launched this week.
Nonpartisan election forecasters rate Sullivan’s seat solid Republican, but Alaska is one of several states that offer Senate Democrats perennial hope of flipping a longtime GOP state that has a history of also electing some independents and Democrats.
Sullivan, seeking a third term, in 2020 defeated Democratic-backed independent Al Gross, a prolific fundraiser, by double digits despite polls suggesting the race would be far tighter. Outside money from both parties poured into the Last Frontier state.
Centrist Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has served since 2003 and has managed to fend off rivals of all political stripes, even winning a write-in campaign in 2010 after losing the primary to a Sarah Palin-backed candidate.
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This time, Democrats are keeping their fingers crossed that Peltola will step back into the political ring. The former congresswoman was ousted from her at-large seat last November by Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK) by less than three percentage points in a state Trump won with double digits.
Peltola, who now works for a law and lobbying firm, has so far kept her powder dry but is reportedly open to running for the House, Senate, or governor. Candidacy filing deadlines are not until next June.