Sullivan and Peltola Clash in Alaska Senate Debate

Sen. Dan Sullivan and former Rep. Mary Peltola met Thursday in their only scheduled debate so far. They clashed over staff-mistreatment allegations and Peltola's use of notes.

25 staffers quit working for Peltola, Sullivan said, citing The New York Times.
Peltola called the allegations outright fabrications or mass exaggerations, and gossip.
Moderators said candidates did not get questions in advance after Sullivan asked.
5% primary threshold kept Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. off the debate stage.

Why it matters: The race could help decide Senate control. Peltola led in several recent polls by 2 to 7 points.

Sabato's Crystal Ball rates the race Leans Democratic; Cook rates it a toss-up.
Republicans say the second Sullivan could split their vote.

The story so far

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Oct 152:01 PMSullivan and Peltola Clash in Alaska Senate DebateYou are here
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How 25 sources split on this story

Source landscape

Factuality

High

Mixed

Low

Strong LeftLeftLean LeftCenterLean RightRightStrong Right

Political Bias

Coverage by lean% of 25 sources

25 sources · 29 articles · 52% Right coverage

Where they split: Coverage divides over whether the debate turned on Peltola's conduct and preparation or on the race's polling and stakes.

Center coverage, 7 sources: The center frames the debate around Peltola's first direct response to the staff allegations in a tight race.

NOTUS1w+Alaska Is Becoming a Swing State - The Washington Sun PBS NewsHour1w+WATCH LIVE: Sullivan, Peltola face off in Alaska U.S. Senate debate Newsweek1w+Can Mary Peltola escape the Democratic brand in Trump country?Associated Press1w+Alaska’s Sullivan and Peltola clash over Iran and high prices in testy Senate debate KSAT 12 San Antonio1w+Alaska's Sullivan and Peltola clash over Iran and high prices in testy Senate debate National Journal1w+Alaska ballot disagreement scrambles GOP chances The Hill1w+Peltola, Sullivan spar in fiery final Alaska Senate debate: ‘Let’s have some decorum’

Left5 sources

MSNBC1w+Peltola hits back at Sullivan’s attempt at a ‘gotcha’ in Alaska Senate debate NBC News1w+Alaska Senate candidates clash over the Iran war, high prices and their times in office Political Wire1w+Alaska Is Becoming a Swing State Politico1w+Sullivan walks the line with Trump in Alaska Senate race Raw Story1w+Red state that's turning blue faster than any other may be key to flipping Senate: report

Right coverage, 13 sources: The right highlights Peltola's notecards and the second Sullivan, while also reporting her polling lead.

OutKick1w+From ‘Third Reich’ to ‘not that informed’: Senate debates deliver fireworks before midterms Reason1w+What happens when 2 Dan Sullivans run for the same Alaska Senate seat?Daily Mail1w+Alaska Senate debate erupts in chaos as Trump candidate accuses media of illegally giving his opponent questions ahead of time Just the News1w+Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Peltola criticized for use of notecards during debate New York Post1w+Alaska Dem Senate hopeful Mary Peltola mocked for using 'cue cards' in high-stakes debate Newsmax1w+Alaska's Sullivan and Peltola Clash Over Iran, High Prices in Testy Senate Debate RedState1w+Alaska Senate Candidate Cues Viral Reaction With Embarrassing Thing She Brought to Live Debate The Center Square1w+Sullivan, Peltola spar over Iran, gas, healthcare in heated debate The Daily Wire1w+Republican Questions Moderators After Catching Dem Opponent Reading From Notes The Epoch Times1w+LIVE NOW: Alaska US Senate Candidates Face Off in Statewide Debate The Gateway Pundit1w+“Were We Supposed to Get These Questions Beforehand?” — Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan Confronts Democrat Mary Peltola During Alaska Senate Debate After Spotting Her Reading Prepared Answers (VIDEO) * The Gateway Pundit * by Jim Hᴏft Townhall1w+NRSC and Sen. Dan Sullivan Launch Radio Jingle Ad Reminding Alaska to Keep Mary Peltola Retired Washington Examiner1w+Dan Sullivan and Mary Peltola exchange jabs in Alaska Senate debate

What’s next: Courts kept Daniel J. Sullivan on the November ballot after election officials tried to bar him.

NBC News reported a federal investigation into his candidacy; he says he received no subpoena.
Will ranked-choice voting absorb confusion between the two Dan Sullivans?
Will the staff allegations shift polling in the final weeks?
Will South Korea commit funding to the Alaska natural gas pipeline?