Democrat Senate candidate caught using cue cards in Alaska showdown

Clear Facts

• Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola used notecards during a debate against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.
• Sullivan and Republican critics publicly mocked the prepared notes during the live exchange.
• The race remains tight as Republicans seek to retain their narrow Senate majority.

Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola drew sharp criticism during a high-stakes debate after she was observed reading from notecards. The exchange occurred as she faced Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in a contest viewed as crucial for control of the Senate.

Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan did not hesitate to call out the practice on the spot. He asked the moderators whether the candidates were supposed to receive questions in advance, highlighting the apparent reliance on prepared material.

“Really, Mary? Reading off a script? You can’t cue-card your way through the Senate,” Sullivan wrote on X after the debate.

Republican Party officials quickly amplified the moment, posting a clip of Peltola appearing to read from her notes. They noted that she had introduced no bills to help Alaska fishermen during her time in Congress yet still required a script to discuss the fishing industry.

“Mary, blink twice if you are okay. It seems you can’t string a sentence together without reading from the talking points your Lower 48 handlers wrote you,” NRSC official Joanna Rodriguez posted on X.

Peltola defended her preparation, stating that she was simply better prepared for the exchange. Sullivan maintained a steady line of questioning, pressing the moderators while observing his opponent’s actions.

“We weren’t supposed to get these questions beforehand, were we?” Sullivan asked the moderators.

The debate also addressed allegations that Peltola mistreated former staffers. Sullivan cited reports that twenty-five employees had quit while working for her. Peltola rejected the claims as fabrications or exaggerations and said the election should not focus on her worst day.

Moderators intervened to restore order when the candidates interrupted each other, warning that microphones could be cut off if decorum was not maintained.

“OK,” Sullivan said. “I’m just watching my opponent.”

The candidates also discussed Alaska’s proposed liquefied natural gas pipeline. Sullivan defended the administration’s efforts while acknowledging that specific investment amounts remain under negotiation. Peltola expressed support for the project but cautioned against promoting commitments without firm backing.

The contest carries national significance. Republicans are defending a narrow Senate majority, and Alaska is rated a toss-up by the Cook Political Report. President Donald Trump carried the state in 2024.

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