Pres. Trump in AK, a blow-up lizard and chants about chicken poop — Alaska had a big political week

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - It was a big political week in Alaska. Between a presidential visit, major endorsements, debates — wow, it’s been busy.

We have a lot to unpack.

Takeaways from the Alaska Senate debate between Mary Peltola and Dan Sullivan

This was a fiery one that included supporters, and a person wearing a lizard suit, chanting outside of Alaska Public Media where Thursday’s debate was held.

The cost of living sparked tension with gas prices in cities sitting around $5, while Alaska village prices are shockingly higher and diesel adding another level of stress with high costs.

Peltola accused Sullivan of being overly supportive to President Trump, which has led to the ongoing war with Iran and high gas prices.

“Prices are too high for hard working Alaskans and D.C. politicians are waging forever wars,” Peltola said.

Sullivan called out Peltola’s absentee rate at work and for a New York Times report that she used homophobic slurs and had a high turnover of staffers because of having an abusive work place.

“She treats young Alaskans horribly, 25 staffers quit because she abused them,” Sullivan said.

Trump stumps in Alaska and doles out endorsements

President Trump bypassed Anchorage and went to the Republican stronghold of Wasilla to pitch Congressman Nick Begich and Sullivan.

“In less than two years, Sen. Sullivan and I have delivered more for Alaska than any senator and any president,” Trump said.

Democrats called the move to speak in Wasilla as “Chicken s---.”

“I kept coming back to one word and that’s chicken s---,” Eric Croft, chair of the state Democratic party, said.

“CHICKEN S---,” the crowd cheered back.

“Here’s what I mean by that,” Croft continued. “These two, Dan and Nick [Begich], have gone years without coming back for any kind of public forum.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump endorsed Bernadette Wilson for Alaska governor, adding that he would not be endorsing fellow Republican candidate Dave Bronson, claiming that Bronson “begged” him for support but Trump would not oblige because he was not the top Republican in the state primary in August.

Alaska’s News Source caught up with Bronson at the rally Tuesday afternoon, who said that the president’s recollection of events leading up to his endorsement of Wilson was “different from mine.”

Republican Treg Taylor and Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins are the other two candidates fighting for the governor’s seat in November. Current Gov. Mike Dunleavy is term-limited and will cede the position.

“Now is the time for all Republicans to unite behind Bernadette,” Trump said.

Alaska US House candidates meet for ‘Debate for the State’

Alaska’s race for its only U.S. House seat moved to the debate stage Wednesday night when Republican incumbent Rep. Nick Begich and independent challenger Bill Hill answered questions live from Alaska Public Media’s Anchorage studio.

Begich is seeking a second term after winning Alaska’s at-large House seat in 2024, defeating then-Rep. Mary Peltola by fewer than 8,400 votes after a ranked-choice election. Begich comes from a prominent Alaska political family: his grandfather, Nick Begich Sr., held the same seat in the 1970s.

Bill Hill, an Independent, is a commercial fisherman and retired educator from Bristol Bay. Hill spent more than 25 years in Alaska schools, including as superintendent of the Bristol Bay Borough School District, and was named Alaska’s Superintendent of the Year in 2023. A Dena’ina Athabascan from Naknek, Hill is making his first run for public office and is campaigning as an independent.

Begich has out-raised the field every quarter this cycle, pulling in $954,000 in the second quarter compared with Hill’s $387,000. President Trump has endorsed Begich.