Democrat Mary Peltola emerged on top in Alaska’s all-party Senate primary Tuesday, but she did so only days after abruptly dismissing several senior campaign staffers in a shake-up that reportedly left parts of her operation in “complete chaos.”
Peltola received 48.1 percent of the primary vote compared with 42.7 percent for incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, according to results reported by The Washington Post.
The two now head toward a closely watched November contest as Democrats attempt to capture Sullivan’s seat and improve their chances of taking control of the Senate.
The primary results, however, do not necessarily provide a straightforward preview of November. Other candidates accounted for the remaining votes, including Daniel J. Sullivan, who ran as a Republican and shared the incumbent senator’s name. Republicans have alleged that his candidacy was intended to draw votes away from Sen. Sullivan.
Polling has also painted a mixed picture of the general election.
Several surveys have shown Peltola leading Sullivan by between two and seven percentage points. But a June 15-29 New York Times/Siena University poll showed Sullivan ahead by two points. That survey was the first in the race to satisfy the Times’ quality standards for inclusion in its polling aggregate.
Meanwhile, prediction market Kalshi gave Peltola a 56 percent chance of defeating Sullivan as of Wednesday.
Those numbers make the timing of Peltola’s internal campaign upheaval particularly notable.
This is true
And Anton McParland, Peltola’s campaign manager and former chief of staff, is no longer with the campaign. https://t.co/21oJ6qriay
— Kellen Browning (@Kellen_Browning) August 17, 2026
The Alaska Landmine reported Monday that Peltola had “abruptly fired multiple senior campaign staff” over the weekend. Among those dismissed were Anton McParland and Elisa Rios, two longtime Peltola aides who had been with her since her successful 2022 campaign for the U.S. House. Rios had served as Peltola’s chief of staff.
“One source with knowledge of the firings described the campaign in ‘complete chaos’ with other staff wondering if they still have a job,” the Landmine reported.
No confirmed explanation for the dismissals was provided.
The shake-up occurred shortly after Peltola’s campaign publicly distanced itself from former Vice President Kamala Harris’ support. Whether that played any role in the personnel changes remains unclear.
The political calculation in Alaska is complicated by the state’s recent voting history. Trump carried Alaska by 13 percentage points in 2024, according to the Landmine, while Peltola lost her House seat to Republican Nick Begich by only 2.4 points during the same election.
Instead of continuing with some of her longtime personnel, Peltola has reportedly turned to Thematic Campaigns, a Chicago-based political consulting firm founded by former Barack Obama adviser David Axelrod.
According to the Landmine, Thematic has worked on campaigns involving prominent Democrats including Obama, Adam Schiff, Pete Buttigieg and Sheldon Whitehouse.
The outlet also cited sources claiming the Democratic National Committee was behind the campaign overhaul and pushed Thematic onto Peltola’s operation. That account, however, was not confirmed.
The personnel dispute comes as Alaska assumes considerable importance in the national battle for Senate control.
According to the Landmine, Democrats need a net gain of four seats to capture the chamber, making Republican-held seats where Democrats can mount competitive challenges particularly valuable. Among states Trump carried in 2024 that are holding Senate elections this year, only North Carolina had better Democratic pickup odds on prediction markets as of Wednesday night, according to 270toWin.
