Alaskan Senator Dan Sullivan Caught Copying Opponent's Answer During Debate
During a Kodiak debate on fisheries, Republican Senator Dan Sullivan was filmed copying Democrat Mary Peltola's paddle response after missing a question.
At a debate focused on Alaska’s fishing industry in Kodiak, Republican Senator Dan Sullivan missed a question concerning the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries. After the moderator asked him to respond, Sullivan looked down at his papers, then turned to Democrat Mary Peltola and subtly mirrored her paddle indicating "no." The crowd laughed, and Sullivan offered a sheepish apology. Mary Peltola shared the clip on X, commenting that Alaskans deserve a senator with a clear stance.
The contest is complicated by the presence of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan, a retired teacher, on the ballot alongside the incumbent. Voters will choose among the top four primary finishers in the upcoming general election.
Why it matters
The incident highlights campaign conduct and voter concerns about transparency in Alaska's Senate race.
How this story developed
- Aug 17 Midterm outlook shifts as key Senate and governor contests turn competitive
- Aug 24 Mike Collins’ poll numbers rose after the controversy.
- Aug 24 Early voting for the runoff recorded 63,712 ballots, slightly ahead of the 61,775 cast in the primary.
- Aug 25 Tuesday runoff election was held to select the GOP nominee.
- Aug 25 University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll shows Democrat James Talarico ahead of Republican Ken Paxton.
- Aug 27 Trump arrived in Texas for a fundraising event supporting the Republican candidate.
- Aug 29 Talarico aired his first television advertisement targeting Paxton.
- Sep 1 President Trump arrived in Texas to fundraise for Ken Paxton.
- Sep 1 Lone Star Liberty PAC committed $15 million to a new television advertising campaign for Paxton.
- Sep 1 Speaker Mike Johnson said he met with Elon Musk in an effort to secure financial support for Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections.
- Sep 2 A poll shows Talarico at 44.0% and Paxton at 43.4% among likely voters.
- Sep 4 The America PAC filing listed independent expenditures in multiple 2026 races.
- Sep 7 MAGA Inc. filed an FEC report showing a new advertising purchase for the Texas Senate contest.
- Sep 11 Analysts reclassified the contest as a toss‑up with Talarico outspending Paxton by roughly seven‑fold.
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