Alaska Senate candidate Peltola rebuffs unsolicited support from Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris, who lost Alaska by 13 points in the 2024 presidential race, sent an email on Wednesday from her political organization to supporters of Mary Peltola, a former US House member now running for Senate. Signed with Harris's name, the message said Peltola could be the one to flip Alaska and secure a Senate majority for Democrats, but added she could not do it alone.

The email asked recipients to donate to Fight for the People PAC, an organization Harris founded last year, with proceeds to be split between Harris's group and Peltola's campaign. Although the message was relatively mild and stopped short of an explicit endorsement, Peltola's campaign quickly rejected the gesture.

A Peltola spokesperson told KTUU that Mary is not seeking endorsements from anyone in the "Lower 48" and that her focus remains squarely on Alaska. The spokesperson pointed instead to endorsements from labor groups including the American Federation of Government Employees, the Alaska AFL-CIO and a local electrical workers' union, as well as support from more than 10,000 Alaskan volunteers.

Republicans seize the opening

The campaign's caution proved warranted, as a spokesperson for Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan, Nate Adams, immediately used the email to link the moderate Peltola to Harris, arguing that Alaskans had rejected Harris decisively because of her past positions.

The episode underscores that Harris remains a divisive figure within the Democratic party as she weighs another presidential run. Earlier this year she left the door open when asked by civil rights leader Al Sharpton about her future plans. Harris became the Democratic nominee in 2024 after replacing Joe Biden, but lost both the electoral college and popular vote to Donald Trump following a compressed 107-day campaign.