Former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) is working to separate herself from an endorsement by former Vice President Kamala Harris as she vies for Alaska's Senate seat, a move that has become a flashpoint in the race.
Harris's political action committee, Fight for the People PAC, sent a fundraising email Wednesday urging supporters to donate to Peltola's campaign, framing her as the key to flipping the Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. "If there's anyone who can flip Alaska and secure the Senate majority for Democrats — it's Mary," Harris wrote.
But Peltola's campaign insists it had no prior knowledge of the email and did not seek the endorsement. "Mary isn't seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48 — her focus is and always will be Alaska," her campaign said, pointing to support from in-state labor groups.
The distance Peltola is trying to create reflects the political liability Harris represents in a state that backed President Trump by 13 points in 2024. Republicans were quick to pounce. Nick Puglia, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Peltola worked "hand in hand with Kamala Harris to put Alaska last, so it's no surprise that Harris is backing Peltola."
Sullivan's campaign echoed that sentiment, telling the New York Times, "No matter how hard Mary Peltola tries to hide from the endorsement, Alaskans can see exactly whose team she and Kamala Harris are on." The attack underscores how national Democratic figures can become a drag in red-leaning states, a dynamic also seen in other races where candidates have had to navigate endorsements from prominent party leaders.
Even some local allies are critical of Harris's intervention. Alaska state Rep. Rebecca Himschoot (I) called the fundraising email "really dumb," adding, "She's riding Mary Peltola's coattails. And she's not even running for anything that anyone knows of yet, and didn't do well here to begin with."
Peltola served in the House from 2022 to 2025, winning a special election and then a full term before losing her 2024 reelection bid to Republican Nick Begich. Her brief tenure in Congress overlapped with Harris's vice presidency, providing Republicans with a ready-made attack line.
The endorsement also fits a broader pattern of Harris wading into high-stakes primaries, including her recent support for a progressive candidate in Michigan's Senate race. But in Alaska, Peltola is trying to keep her campaign focused on local issues, a strategy that has worked for her before in a state with a strong independent streak.
Alaska's nonpartisan primary takes place Tuesday, with the top four vote-getters advancing to the November general election. Peltola is widely expected to make the cut, but the Harris endorsement could complicate her efforts to appeal to moderate and independent voters who may be wary of national Democratic ties.
