Mary Peltola
October 7, 2026 · Newsletter
Life and death
Over the weekend, I visited with Alaskans in Dillingham, King Cove, and Naknek – communities in Southwest Alaska that are being crushed by astronomical prices.
I’ve been lucky enough over the course of this campaign to visit dozens of communities across Alaska. Usually, these visits are joyful and energizing, full of hope and optimism about the future of our beautiful state.
And while this latest swing was still all of that, it was also deeply sombering. As we’re heading into what will likely be a long, hard winter, Alaskans in Dillingham, King Cove, and Naknek are facing an impossible choice: Starve or freeze.
Last month, I joined Lawrence O’Donnell on MS NOW and explained to him that in Dillingham – which is a hub and one of our larger communities in rural Alaska! – they’re paying as much as $9 for a gallon of gas, and that these prices will be locked in place for the winter until the spring barge comes.
People across the nation were shocked by those numbers, so much so that MS NOW sent a reporter to Dillingham to confirm. I was able to catch up with him while we were in Dillingham and continued to emphasize that this is Dan Sullivan’s doing. He has repeatedly voted for the Iran War which is causing these astronomical fuel costs. And in villages that rely on shipping to get most goods, higher fuel prices mean higher costs for everything.
If you didn’t catch the interview on TV, you can watch it here:
It’s important to me to constantly emphasize that these higher costs aren’t just an inconvenience. They are truly life-or-death for thousands of Alaskans living in rural areas. All across the state, people are preparing to choose between heat and food.
You would think that a senator claiming to represent Alaska would work around the clock to lower costs and bring an end to the unnecessary and disastrous war in Iran that’s caused this crisis. Instead, Dan Sullivan continues to vote to continue the war – as I’m writing this, he’s voted for it 14 times – and calls energy prices an “externality.”
It’s not an externality when Alaskans freeze to death. It’s not an externality when they starve. It’s a fireable offense, and it’s part of why tens of thousands of Alaskans are mobilizing to vote Dan Sullivan out of office in just 27 days.
There’s a lot of increased attention on our race lately, particularly from national news organizations as it’s shaping up to be the most competitive Senate race in the country. I’m so grateful to be able to shine a light on the unique needs of our enormous state, but it’s important that the focus always remains on everyday, working Alaskans.
That’s what’s at stake in this race: the lives of working Alaskans from the Aleutians to Anchorage to the Arctic. And whether I’m on the campaign trail or in the halls of Congress, that will always be my focus.
In just one week, we’re facing our final FEC deadline of the race, covering a reporting period of just 14 days. This is one of our final opportunities before Election Day to prove that a movement powered by and for everyday Alaskans can pull off a historic upset and win this toss-up Senate race.
So if you can, I’m asking you to make a contribution of any amount to our campaign for Senate today. I mean it when I say that the donation itself matters far more than the amount. So even if it’s just $1, please make a donation today.
No one is coming to save us – so Alaskans are going to save ourselves.
Thank you.
- Mary