Oil, fuel costs and the Iran war dominate Alaska's Sullivan-Peltola showdown

Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola met for a televised debate on Thursday in a race both parties see as central to control of the Senate, The Associated Press reported.

Sullivan, seeking a third term, argued that electing Peltola, a former congresswoman, would empower Democrats who want to limit oil and gas leasing, including around projects such as Willow. Peltola said those attacks distract from the fuel costs Alaskans face and from the war in Iran, and said she would work with President Trump to advance oil and gas projects, according to the AP.

National attention

Trump rallied for Sullivan in Wasilla on Oct. 13, and Vice President JD Vance visited Fairbanks the week before. Fox News rates the race a toss-up. Alaska last elected a Democrat to the Senate in 2008.

How Alaska votes

Alaska uses a pick-one primary and ranked-choice voting for state and federal races, a system it adopted in 2022, according to the state Division of Elections. The top four finishers in the August primary advanced to the Nov. 3 general election.