Trump heads to Alaska to boost Sen. Dan Sullivan in tight reelection race

President Donald Trump is traveling to Alaska on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, to campaign for Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, an unusually long midterm trip that reflects concern within the party about a race once expected to be reliably Republican.

Trump is scheduled to headline a rally at the Menard Sports Center in Wasilla, about 45 miles north of Anchorage. Alaska Public Media reported that Trump is due to speak at 3:30 p.m. local time and that doors open at noon. The event follows Vice President JD Vance's campaign appearance for Sullivan in Fairbanks the previous week.

Sullivan, a two-term incumbent seeking another six years in the Senate, is running against Democrat Mary Peltola, a former U.S. representative. Peltola has emphasized the cost of living and an Alaska-focused message. Recent polling has shown a competitive contest, though individual polls vary and should not be treated as predictions of the November 3 result.

One Alaska Survey Research poll cited by Alaska Public Media put Peltola ahead by two percentage points in both the initial count and a ranked-choice tabulation. Associated Press reporting said declining support for Trump in the state could make voters who backed him in 2024 but are now uncertain about him especially important to the Senate outcome.

Trump won Alaska comfortably in 2024, and Democrats have not won one of the state's U.S. Senate seats since 2008. The president's decision to spend part of the final three weeks before Election Day in Wasilla nevertheless gives the contest national significance. Control of the Senate is at stake, and both parties are directing attention and money toward a limited group of competitive races.

Trump praised Sullivan last week as a strong senator and argued that his administration had done more for Alaska than any predecessor. The administration has moved to open additional Alaska land to oil and gas development. Sullivan also appeared with Trump at the White House in September when the president announced a proposed South Korean investment in an Alaska natural gas project; South Korea has said the terms and total value are not final.

The Alaska trip is part of a wider campaign swing. The Associated Press reported that Trump also plans rallies in Arizona and Montana on Wednesday. He has been intervening personally in races where Republican candidates are trying to hold traditionally favorable territory during a difficult national political environment.

Sullivan has continued to support major parts of Trump's agenda, including the administration's Iran policy and tariffs, while economic issues have become central in Alaska. The state is especially sensitive to fuel and transportation costs because of its geography. Trump's trade dispute with Canada also has local implications: Alaska shares a border with Canada and depends on cross-border commerce for some goods.

Alaska's election rules add another layer of uncertainty. Four candidates advanced from the state's open primary, and the general election uses ranked-choice voting. A retired teacher also named Dan Sullivan is on the ballot alongside Sen. Sullivan. The other candidate has denied claims from Trump allies that he entered as a spoiler.

Trump's previous Alaska campaign appearance came in 2022, when he backed Kelly Tshibaka against Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski and supported Sarah Palin for the U.S. House. Both Trump-backed candidates lost. Tuesday's visit therefore carries a straightforward test: whether a presidential rally can consolidate Republican support and help Sullivan in a state whose voting history favors the GOP but whose current Senate race remains close.

Sources and image credit

Reporting: Associated Press, published by News4JAX

Local reporting and event details: Alaska Public Media

Additional campaign reporting: The National Desk

Image: Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain; photographed in Anchorage, Alaska, in June 2019; cropped to 16:9).