Alaska Democratic Senate hopeful Mary Peltola rejected support this week from former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost the state by double-digits in her failed 2024 presidential campaign.
“Alaska is a must-win Senate seat for Democrats to retake control of the Senate,” Harris wrote in a fundraising email, urging the public to “help Mary Peltola get the support she needs” by splitting a donation between Peltola’s campaign and the ex-veep’s Fight for the People PAC.
Harris continued, “So if there’s anyone who can flip Alaska and secure the Senate majority for Democrats – it’s Mary. But she cannot do it alone.”
“When we all stand behind Mary, we can give her the boost she needs to overcome their spending and organize across Alaska,” the former vice president added.
Peltola, a former congresswoman who flipped Alaska’s at-large congressional seat blue in 2022, was not interested in Harris’ support.
“Mary isn’t seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48 — her focus is and always will be Alaska,” a campaign spokeswoman told the New York Times.
The outlet said the Peltola campaign did not approve the fundraising email.
Harris lost Alaska to Trump in the 2024 presidential election by a whopping 14 percentage points.
Notably, Peltola did not endorse Harris in the 2024 race.
Republicans quickly moved to link Peltola to Harris after the email went out.
“Mary Peltola is an ineffective radical leftist who worked hand in hand with Kamala Harris to put Alaska last, so it’s no surprise that Harris is backing Peltola,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Nick Puglia said in a statement.
Peltola is one of several candidates challenging incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) in the Aug. 18 nonpartisan Senate primary.
The top four vote-getters in next week’s contest will advance to the November election.
Alaskans have not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 2008.
