Peltola kicks-off campaign to unseat Sen. Sullivan
By Colin A. Warren
Former Rep. Mary Peltola kicked off her campaign to unseat current Sen. Dan Sullivan in Fairbanks last Tuesday in a spacious and stunning log cabin at Trail Breakers Kennel with an interesting twist on her politically moderate messaging.
Photo by Simeon Ramirez
Mary Peltola addresses the crowd at the Trail Breaker Kennel in Fairbanks, Alaska, kicking off her campaign after putting her name in for the senate race.
“Make Alaska great again,” Peltola belted during a short speech, after hearing a woman in the crowd shout it. “Or Alaska first, or however you want to say it.”
Republicans currently control the U.S. Senate with a 53-47 margin. Peltola’s campaign is seen as a glimmer of hope for Democrats who want to take back the chamber. Even though Peltola lost her 2024 run for Congress to Nick Begich III, it was only by 2.4 points in a state that Trump won by over 10 points.
Peltola told the crowd she wants the old Alaska back.
“I want her to be like AOC, Bernie, and Elizabeth Warren,” Poppy Prino told The Sun Star.
Northern Center’s David Leslie was in attendance supporting Peltola, fresh off the ICE protest picket lines. There were several T-Dog hats and shirts on, emphasizing the importance of dog mushing to the constituents of Fairbanks. Elisa Rios, who works on Peltola’s campaign, swept through the room asking a couple fellow employees if they knew where Mary’s earrings were. When asked why he supports Peltola, Todd Mackinaw answered: “Well, she’s not a knee jerk, right-wing idealogue.”
Before Peltola delivered a demonstrably short speech at the kick off party, the room brimmed with excitement as a fire crackled in the corner, while Thai-themed catering and wine bottles covered the counters.
Photo by Simeon Ramirez
Mary Peltola, former Alaska representative, speaks to community members during a meet and greet which marked as the start of her campaign for senator.
David Monson, host of the event, bragged to a reporter that he was the godfather of former Sen.Ted Stevens’ grandkids. A group of young professionals said that they couldn’t comment about their support for Pelotla because they work in the government. The age of the overall crowd ran the gambit from young to old. When Peltola hit the floor, she chatted up everyone that came up to her, unleashing a panoply of facial expressions.
Peltola announced her campaign eight days before the soiree with a video that praises Republicans Ted Stevens and Don Young and claims she is at odds with the Washington D.C. political machine, noting that she plans to propose term limits on representatives.
“I think Mary would set this country in the right direction,” said UAF student Cooper Moen, who campaigned for Peltola during the last election cycle and was excited to support her again. He believes Peltola will help bring back funding to UAF and that in turn would improve the workforce of Alaska.
“We can win Fairbanks, we can win the Interior, and we’re going to win Alaska,” Peltola told the rapt crowd. “This is our bright spot, each other, and we’re working towards a better Alaska, a high functioning Alaska.”