Native Vote 2026

The U.S. Senate campaign for Mary Peltola (Yup’ik) on Tuesday launched its first television advertisement of the election cycle, a statewide spot emphasizing her deep ties to Alaska communities and her background as a commercial fishing boat captain.

The 60-second ad, titled “We Stick Together,” features families, fishermen, and residents from across Alaska speaking about Peltola’s connection to the state and her commitment to putting Alaska first. The campaign said the ad will air statewide on television as well as on connected TV and digital platforms.

One speaker in the ad says, “Mary’s had her boots on the ground, on the riverbanks, in the mud, just like all us Alaskans. I think she gets it.”

The campaign said the ad comes as many Alaskans continue to struggle with rising prices, declining fish populations, and concerns about outside interests influencing policies affecting the state.

According to the campaign, more than 4,500 Alaskans have signed up to support Peltola’s Senate bid, with supporters represented in every borough and census area across Alaska.

“Mary knows the struggles facing Alaskans because she’s lived them,” said Alaskans for Mary Campaign Manager Elisa Rios. “While Dan Sullivan continues to sell out Alaska to his special interest backers like Big Pharma and Lower 48 corporations who are jacking up prices on Alaska families, Mary has been on the ground with her boots in the mud working with communities across the state rallying Alaskans to defend our way of life.”

Rios added, “Alaskans will elect Mary this November because she’ll always be an independent voice for the state who will stand up to the rigged system in DC and put Alaska first.”

WATCH “We Stick Together” 

SCRIPT:

ALASKAN ONE: When I think of an Alaskan I think about somebody who has a genuine connection to the land and the people and the experience of living and growing and raising a family. 

ALASKAN TWO: Alaskans we stick together, no matter what.

ALASKAN THREE: We’re all tough, we’re gritty, and we work together to solve the problems in our community, no matter what your background is.

ALASKAN FOUR: Mary Peltola will listen to working families, she will listen to small farmers and fisherman.

MARY PELTOLA: Every Alaskan I have ever known no matter how young, no matter how old, no matter where they’re from, deeply understand the importance of making sure our kids and grandkids and all the generations after us have the same kind of abundance that we had. We can get back there if we’re all working on this together. 

ALASKAN FIVE: I think she gets me. 

ALASKAN SIX: Mary’s had her boots on the ground, on the riverbanks, in the mud, just like all us Alaskans. I think she gets it. 

ALASKAN FIVE: Mary knows us Alaskans. She’s going to put us first. 

Related

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – As Memorial Day weekend approaches, Anchorage residents and visitors are adjusting their travel plans as gas prices near record highs.

At Westchester Lagoon on Monday, Nancy Podgorski searched for spring shorebirds, something she plans to do this Memorial Day as well.

“This is just the best time of year to go birding in Anchorage,” Podgorski said.

Due to the cost of travel, Podgorski won’t make it back to Homer for the Shorebird Festival this year.

“It was disappointing to be honest because last year we went and it was so fun and it’s such a great activity and there’s lots of festivals around,” Podgorski said.

“The jump from $3.89 a gallon to $5.19, and who knows how much higher it’s going to go, that’s really significant for people that are retired on a teacher’s retirement budget,” Podgorski said. “It’s like … that’s the difference between eating ramen noodles and not eating ramen noodles.”

Alli, an Anchorage resident who recently moved from Maryland, is planning a Memorial Day visit to Denali before cutting back on travel.

“We are going to do a trip to Denali. So, it’s early in the season, but we’re so excited,” she said.

She said it’s her last trip for a while.

“The gas has been a shock and we’re feeling it,” she said. “I think after this trip, we’re probably going to stay local in Anchorage for the summertime.”

Tourists are also noticing the high fuel costs. Tony Broussard, visiting from Florida, said he was surprised by Alaska’s gas prices.

“I would have maybe thought, because I’m originally from Louisiana, and, you know, in oil production areas, you’d think would be a little… less,” Broussard said.

The Alaska average as of Monday is $5.29 per gallon, just under $2 higher than last year, according to AAA.

“I think the gas prices is definitely something that I will consider when we’re doing trips,” Alli said.

Despite the high costs, many plan to make the most of it.

“There’s plenty of things and hiking to do in the area, but definitely is painful to fill up my car,” Alli said.

“And you know, gas prices are $5.19 a gallon now we’re staying put. But when you’ve got a beautiful lake and we go birding all the time,” Podgorski said. “We have our binocs, our camera, we’re ready to go.”

“We’re just enjoying the day,” Broussard said.

With summer approaching, the question for many drivers isn’t just how much it costs to fill up. It’s how much longer it will stay this way.

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