Inflation-Weary Alaskans Put Senate Control in Play

Democrats this year are looking at traditionally red states like Alaska, hoping to win more seats to flip control of the Senate. We have Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan facing a really tough challenge from Mary Peltola, a Democrat and Alaska native from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. One interesting thing we're seeing from Democrats is a lot of distance that they're putting between themselves and the National Democratic Party. I asked Mary Peltola how she would describe her relationship to the National Party. And she said the relationship that she's focused on is her relationship with Alaskans. Mary Peltola has even pledged to work with President Trump when it makes sense for Alaska, especially to develop oil and gas exploration, which is super important to the state's economy, and also out of step with national Democrats. I asked Senator Sullivan how he would describe his working relationship with the president, and he was super grateful to the Trump administration for everything that they've done for Alaska. Alaskan politics have always been really interesting. They're a lot less beholden to the national parties and a lot more identified with the issues that face this super unique state. There's been a lot of focus on economic issues, both specific to the fishing industry, to subsistence fishers, to commercial fishermen, and also a lot of focus on macroeconomic issues. One thing I'm hearing from fishermen here in Kodiak, Alaska, even people who have supported President Donald Trump in the past, is that they're really seeing the impact from some of his administration policies. They're pointing to things like the war in Iran that have driven up the cost of fuel. The cost of labor has increased as it's harder to get an H-2B visa to bring in foreign workers that they used to supplement local labor during the high season, during the summer. They're also paying more for boat insurance. They're paying more for inputs, whether that's the wire that they use for their sonar equipment or the metal swivels that go on their nets. So, they're really seeing costs pile up in a way that makes it increasingly difficult to operate. Now, of course, Trump is not on the ballot in November, but the Republicans who are running here for Senate, for the House of Representatives, and for governor have not been able to put much distance between themselves and the president. So, the challenge for candidates here in Alaska will be to tell their own story and to speak to their fellow Alaskans to convince them that they will best represent their interests in Washington, D.C. There are still 6 weeks until election day, and that's plenty of time for unexpected developments and a barrage of political ads to shape public opinion. On September 23rd, the New York Times reported on text messages and accounts of former staffers alleging erratic behavior and abusive language by Peltola. Her campaign disputed part of the allegations and said some of the reported incidents came as she was grieving the deaths of her husband and mother.