Dan Sullivan Accuses Mary Peltola of Reading Pre-Prepared Answers in Chaotic Alaska Senate Debate

The final debate in Alaska’s closely contested US Senate race descended into a heated exchange after Republican Senator Dan Sullivan questioned whether his Democratic opponent, Congresswoman Mary Peltola, had received the questions in advance.

The confrontation took place during a debate hosted by Alaska Public Media, where the candidates were asked about rising energy prices in the state.

As Peltola finished her response, Sullivan interrupted to question moderator Lori Townsend about whether the candidates had been given the questions beforehand.

“Can I ask the moderator a question? We weren’t supposed to get these questions beforehand, were we?” Sullivan asked.

Townsend immediately rejected the suggestion, telling both candidates that neither had received the questions in advance.

Sullivan continued speaking over the moderator, saying he was watching Peltola read answers that appeared to have been prepared for the questions.

Peltola responded by saying she was prepared and later described Sullivan’s claims as unfounded.

The exchange continued until the moderator warned the candidates to maintain order, threatening to switch off their microphones if the interruptions persisted.

Sullivan Later Accepts Moderator’s Explanation

Sullivan subsequently acknowledged that he believed the moderator’s explanation that the questions had not been shared with Peltola beforehand.

“I’m not blaming you guys,” he told the debate hosts. “I’m not.”

The confrontation nevertheless attracted attention online, with some social media users accusing Peltola of cheating while others criticised Sullivan for focusing on her prepared notes.

One commenter argued that preparation could make a difference in debates, while another suggested Sullivan had expected a different response from his opponent.

Candidates Exchange Personal and Political Accusations

The dispute over the questions was part of a wider debate marked by repeated interruptions and accusations from both candidates.

Sullivan accused Peltola of making $500,000 as a lobbyist in Washington, DC, and alleged that dishonesty had been a defining feature of her campaign.

The Republican also referred to a New York Times article that alleged Peltola had displayed angry outbursts and made insulting remarks about members of her staff and gay people.

Peltola rejected the characterisation of her conduct, saying the election should not be defined by her worst moments.

She described several of the allegations as concerning, outright fabrications or major exaggerations of the truth.

The Democratic candidate also criticised Sullivan’s close relationship with President Donald Trump and accused him of voting repeatedly in support of what she described as a price-hiking war in Iran.

Peltola told Sullivan he should be ashamed of himself.

Rising Energy Prices Feature in Senate Race

The debate included questions about the rising cost of energy in Alaska, an issue facing residents of the state.

The disagreement over Peltola’s prepared answers briefly overshadowed the discussion, with the moderator intervening to restore order.

Both candidates continued to challenge each other’s records and statements throughout the event.

Alaska Senate Contest Draws National Attention

The Senate race has become one of the closely watched contests in the United States, with Republicans facing the possibility of losing a seat in a state that has traditionally supported their party.

The Cook Political Report has classified the contest as a toss-up, while some other polls have shown Peltola holding a narrow lead.

The Daily Mail contacted Alaska Public Media for comment following the debate.