Mary Peltola raised $1.5 million in the first 24 hours of her campaign to challenge Sen. Dan Sullivan, fueled mainly by small-dollar donors across Alaska. The day-one haul outpaced Sullivan’s third-quarter fundraising and was boosted by national Democrats’ outreach. Peltola’s team also recruited more than 500 volunteers, and the Cook Political Report moved the race from “Solid” to “Lean” Republican, making Alaska a more competitive target.
Peltola Raises $1.5M On Day One, Tightening Alaska Senate Race
Former Rep. Mary Peltola raised $1.5 million in the first 24 hours after announcing her bid to unseat Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, giving Democrats a strong opening as they target a Senate seat in reliably Trump-leaning Alaska.
The campaign said the haul was driven overwhelmingly by small-dollar donors across the state — fishermen, silversmiths and train conductors among them — with 96% of contributions $100 or less, according to information the campaign first shared with POLITICO.
“In just 24 hours, Alaskans made it clear that we’re ready to put Alaska first,” Peltola said. “I’m grateful and honored for this incredible support from people who are ready to take on the special interests and DC people and focus on what matters: fish, family, and freedom.”
Peltola’s one-day total surpassed the roughly $1.2 million Sen. Sullivan raised in the third quarter of last year, based on federal campaign filings. Sullivan had not filed his fourth-quarter report as of Tuesday night, but he began the final quarter with nearly $4.8 million in cash on hand.
The campaign acknowledged that outreach from national Democrats likely amplified the day-one total: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), former Vice President Kamala Harris and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) sent email appeals Monday asking supporters to split donations between their organizations and Peltola’s campaign. Peltola’s team also said it signed up more than 500 volunteers on the first day.
Her entrance is viewed as a recruiting win for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic leadership, who are counting on a roster of competitive candidates to help the party try to net seats and reclaim control of the Senate. After Peltola’s launch, the Cook Political Report shifted the Alaska race from “Solid Republican” to “Lean Republican.”
Peltola has experience winning statewide in Alaska: she won a special election in September 2022 to replace the late Rep. Don Young, secured a full term that November, and narrowly lost her seat in 2024 by 2.4 percentage points. She also outperformed the Democratic vice presidential nominee in the state as former President Donald Trump carried Alaska by roughly 13 points in 2024.
Sullivan defeated Democratic incumbent Mark Begich in 2014 and has held the seat for Republicans since. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski — who has backed Peltola in the past — announced her endorsement of Sullivan following Peltola’s campaign launch.
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