(The Center Square) - Candidates for U.S. Senate in Alaska sparred over rising gas prices, the U.S. military conflict in Iran, healthcare and the two traded personal jabs in a debate on Thursday.
Incumbent U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, faced off against Democratic candidate Mary Peltola in the heated debate. Republicans Dan J. Sullivan, a school teacher, and Gerald Heikes were not invited to participate in the debate because they each received less than 5% of the vote in Alaska’s open primary election. All four candidates will be on November’s ballot.
Sullivan called for the U.S. military conflict in Iran to end “soon.” He said high energy prices are directly tied to the conflict but called for greater investments in domestic energy sources.
“The energy costs from this war are too high,” Sullivan said. “The best way to bring down costs with regard to energy in Alaska is to produce more Alaskan energy by and for Alaskans.”
Sullivan pointed to agreements with the Trump administration to develop a $50 million liquefied natural gas pipeline in Alaska with investment from South Korea.
“Energy costs are going to come down when we produce more American energy,” Sullivan said. “I have a strong record of doing that, we are doing that, and that is important.”
Petrola slammed Sullivan’s votes against a war powers resolution. The incumbent senator voted 14 times against a resolution that would restrain President Donald Trump’s military authority in Iran.
“The issue here is the Strait of Hormuz being closed and this never ending war in Iran,” Peltola said. “There does not seem to be a peace deal on the horizon and I think it is so important that our military be removed and protected.”
The average gas price in Alaska is $4.94 per gallon, according to AAA. Average national gas prices are $4.32 per gallon.
Peltola said she would advance legislation to eliminate the federal income tax for Alaskans making less than $92,000 per year. She called for capping prices on prescription drugs.
Peltola criticized Trump’s deal to buy Russian diesel. The deal is a striking reversal from decades of U.S. sanctions against the country and has been criticized by leaders in Ukraine.
“We should be doing everything within our power to help support [Ukraine], not bolstering up Russia,” Peltola said. “Aid to Ukraine should be continually evaluated and used effectively and efficiently”
Sullivan touted his previous support for Ukraine and said he opposes efforts to support the Russian economy as the war continues.
“I don’t think it's a good idea at all,” Sullivan said. “I just led the effort on the Russian sanctions act that passed the Congress so I’m opposed to that.”
The senator attacked Peltola for her vote against a version of the National Defense Authorization Act while she was a member of the U.S. House.
He said Peltola voted against the legislation in July 2023 because it prevented transgender surgeries for troops. Peltola argued that the legislation would have prevented reproductive and abortion care for women and that she voted for other versions of the NDAA, including pay raises for servicemembers.
The candidates disagreed on passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill." Peltola argued the legislation kicked thousands of Alaskans off federal healthcare plans. Sullivan, however, touted the bill's $1.4 billion investment in the rural healthcare transformation fund.
"This funding will help keep care closer to home, reduce the need for costly and disruptive travel, strengthen rural clinics, and stabilize our health care workforce," Sullivan said.
Peltola said she would fight to reverse cuts to Medicaid made through the legislation. She said healthcare professionals have struggled to make use of the transformation fund because of the associated stipulations.
"We can't solve Alaska challenges with Alaska solutions because of those prohibitive sideboards," Peltola said. "Thousands of Alaskans are off of private healthcare insurance because of the ACA tax credit cuts."
The two senators also exchanged personal jabs and clarified statements made throughout the campaign. Sullivan rebutted accusations from the Peltola campaign that he refused to release documents associated with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“I have spent my career defending survivors of domestic violence, of sexual assault,” Sullivan said. “In this case, I voted to release the Epstein files and protect the victims.”
Peltola refuted claims that she enriched herself as a lobbyist after losing a bid for reelection in Congress. Sullivan accused her of attempting to “sell influence” on Capitol Hill.
“Dan's been in D.C. for 12 years and gotten richer every single one of those years. That's the corruption that Alaskans are really sick of, and that's the corruption that I'll fight against. Dan went to D.C. with $3 million. He now has $8 million,” she said. "Dan's doing just fine watching out for himself.”
She also refuted reports that she used derogatory language against gay people and individuals with disabilities as "outright fabrications."
"I am very concerned about making sure that we are respectful and respectful of all people," Peltola said. "This campaign is not about me on my worst day and I think its a real sad statement that I'm such a threat as a candidate that they're willing to do and say anything about me to help Dan win."
Early in-person voting in Alaska is from Oct. 24 to Nov. 1. Absentee ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Election Day.
Polls are open in Alaska from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. For more information, visit the Alaska Division of Elections website, at elections.alaska.gov. For results on Election Day, visit thecentersquare.com/alaska.
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