U.S. Senate, Alaska · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Alaska U.S. Senate race?
Dan Sullivan has the strongest record in the Alaska U.S. Senate race. Dan Sullivan scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Mary Peltola at 60 and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. at 56, as of October 6, 2026. Dan Sullivan's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Mary Peltola's highest marks are relevant experience and courage. Gerald Heikes (2 of 15 criteria), Sid Hill (1 of 15 criteria) and Heather McElwain (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Gerald Heikes
On the ballot as Gerald L. Heikes
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 2 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 38
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Sid Hill
On the ballot as Sidney "Sid" Hill
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Write-in
Heather McElwain
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 3 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Mary Peltola
60 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 55
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 42
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Dan Sullivan
On the ballot as Dan S. Sullivan
62 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 45
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 58
Republican
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.
56 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 60
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Gerald Heikes
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Sid Hill
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Heather McElwain
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Mary Peltola
- Mark against2022-09 to 2024-12
Missed 235 of 1,370 House roll call votes, 17.2 percent, against a median of 2.2 percent.
Sources: GovTrack, Mary Peltola, New York Times via Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 3, 2026
- Unresolved2026-03-27
The National Republican Senatorial Committee asked the FEC to investigate whether more than $100,000 her House committee spent in 2025 was personal use; her campaign calls it false.
Where it stands: Complaint pending at the FEC; no FEC action found as of Oct. 6, 2026. Alaska Public Media reports the FEC lacks the four commissioners needed to act on complaints.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, March 30, 2026, Anchorage Daily News via Yahoo News, March 28, 2026
- On the record2026-08-14
FactCheck.org found her ad's claim that Sullivan cast 'the deciding vote' to keep the Epstein files hidden misleading; he, like the rest of the Senate, supported the bill making the records public.
Source: FactCheck.org, Aug. 14, 2026
- On the record2024-03-07
Voted for the Laken Riley Act, one of 37 House Democrats to vote yes while 170 voted no.
- Credit2022 to 2024
Primary sponsor of two bills enacted into law in the 117th Congress, per GovTrack.
Source: GovTrack, Mary Peltola
- Credit1999 to 2009
Served ten years in the Alaska House and chaired the bipartisan Bush Caucus of rural legislators.
Sources: New York Times via Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 3, 2026, Ballotpedia race page
Dan Sullivan
- Mark against2022-08 to 2022-11
Reported two August 2022 sales of inherited stock 65 and 93 days later, past the STOCK Act's 45-day deadline; his office said a third-party manager had not told him of the sales.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News, Nov. 10, 2022, Business Insider via Yahoo News, Nov. 2022
- On the record2026-07-09
FactCheck.org found his campaign ad's claim that Peltola voted against a military pay raise misleading; she voted for the final 2023 defense bill with a 5.2 percent raise.
Source: FactCheck.org, July 9, 2026
- On the record2026-09
Declined to answer the 2026 joint voter guide questionnaire from Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and the Alaska Beacon.
Source: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
- On the record2021-01-06 to 2021-01-07
Voted Nay on the objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electors.
Sources: GovTrack, Senate Vote 1, Jan. 6, 2021, GovTrack, Senate Vote 2, Jan. 7, 2021
- On the record2016-10-08
Withdrew his support for Republican nominee Donald Trump, called on him to step aside, and resigned from the Alaska Republican Party central committee.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News, Oct. 8, 2016, Alaska Public Media (AP), Oct. 11, 2016
- Credit2015 to 2026
Primary sponsor of 31 bills enacted into law, including Save Our Seas 2.0, per GovTrack.
Source: GovTrack, Dan Sullivan
- Credit1993 to 2024
Served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1993 to 2024, retiring from the reserve as a colonel.
Sources: Ballotpedia race page, Sullivan campaign site
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.
- Unresolved2026-09-08
Americans for Public Trust filed an FEC complaint alleging his campaign coordinated with the 907 Initiative through consultant Amber Lee; Lee and the group say they complied with the law.
Where it stands: Pending at the FEC; Alaska Public Media reports the commission lacks a quorum to act. No finding as of Oct. 6, 2026.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, Sept. 9, 2026, Newsmax via Yahoo News, Sept. 8, 2026
- On the record2026-06 to 2026-08
The Division of Elections removed him from the primary ballot in June 2026 after Republican objections; the courts reinstated him, and the ballot lists him as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. without party.
Sources: Alaska Public Media (KFSK), Aug. 3, 2026, Al Jazeera and the Associated Press, June 27, 2026
- Creditcareer
Retired public school teacher and former U.S. Forest Service worker, as reported by the Associated Press.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. No public record found.
Mary Peltola. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine. A March 2026 NRSC complaint to the FEC is unresolved and not scored.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00933978
Dan Sullivan. Reported two 2022 sales of inherited stock 65 and 93 days after the trades, past the STOCK Act's 45-day deadline, as reported by ADN and Business Insider. Campaign reports are on file with no FEC administrative fine.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News, Nov. 10, 2022, Business Insider via Yahoo News, Nov. 2022, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00570994
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC from May 29 to July 29, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found. Pending FEC complaints are not scored.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00956326
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. No public record found.
Mary Peltola. Voted for the Laken Riley Act in March 2024, one of 37 Democrats against 170 in her party. The New York Times reports she bucked her party on guns, border security and oil and gas.
Sources: House Clerk, Roll Call 66, March 7, 2024, New York Times via Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 3, 2026
Dan Sullivan. In October 2016 withdrew his support for his party's presidential nominee, Donald Trump, and called on him to step aside; he resigned from the state Republican central committee.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News, Oct. 8, 2016, Alaska Public Media (AP), Oct. 11, 2016
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. No public record found.
Mary Peltola. Took part in the Aug. 27, 2026 Alaska Oil and Gas Association forum and the Sept. 12, 2026 Kodiak fisheries debate with Sullivan.
Sources: Ballotpedia race page, Anchorage Daily News, Aug. 28, 2026
Dan Sullivan. Took part in the Aug. 27, 2026 Alaska Oil and Gas Association forum and the Sept. 12, 2026 Kodiak fisheries debate with Peltola.
Source: Ballotpedia race page
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. No public record found.
Mary Peltola. Served ten years in the Alaska House, on the Bethel City Council and in the U.S. House with no censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia race page
Dan Sullivan. Marine Corps officer from 1993 to 2024, Alaska attorney general, natural resources commissioner and senator since 2015, with no censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia race page
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. Retired public school teacher and former U.S. Forest Service worker. No formal conduct finding found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. No public record found.
Mary Peltola. Took the oath as a state legislator (1999 to 2009) and U.S. representative (2022 to 2025). She was not in Congress for the 2021 elector objections; no official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Mary Peltola
Dan Sullivan. Voted Nay on the Jan. 6, 2021 objection to Arizona's electors and the Jan. 7, 2021 objection to Pennsylvania's electors. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: GovTrack, Senate Vote 1, Jan. 6, 2021, GovTrack, Senate Vote 2, Jan. 7, 2021
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. Worked for the U.S. Forest Service, federal civil service, for about 13 to 15 years. No official finding of misuse of office found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. No public record found.
Mary Peltola. Served ten years in the Alaska House (1999 to 2009) and represented Alaska in the U.S. House from 2022 to 2025.
Dan Sullivan. U.S. senator since 2015, now in his second full term; earlier Alaska attorney general (2009 to 2010) and natural resources commissioner (2010 to 2013).
Source: Ballotpedia race page
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. Public school teacher for over 20 years and a U.S. Forest Service forestry technician; has served on Petersburg's Public Safety Advisory Committee and as a volunteer firefighter. Has not held elected office.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Al Jazeera and the Associated Press, June 27, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. Publishes a 16-point platform of commitments framed around what a senator can do, such as closing warrantless federal data purchases.
Mary Peltola. Served on the House Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure committees. Publishes specific federal proposals, such as fully funding fish stock assessments and restoring Bypass Mail funding.
Dan Sullivan. Chairs the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support. Declined the 2026 Alaska media voter guide questionnaire and has not completed Ballotpedia's survey, so no detailed plan was scored.
Sources: GovTrack, Readiness and Management Support subcommittee, Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. Published positions in general terms on housing, health care access, cost of living, fisheries bycatch and the war with Iran in interviews and the joint media questionnaire.
Sources: Alaska Public Media (KFSK), Aug. 3, 2026, Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Gerald Heikes. Did not respond to the 2026 joint Alaska media voter guide questionnaire after multiple attempts, has no campaign website listed and has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Ballotpedia, Gerald Heikes
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. Publishes an issue page on her campaign site. Did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: McElwain campaign site, Where I Stand, Ballotpedia, Heather McElwain
Mary Peltola. Answered the 2026 joint Alaska media voter guide questionnaire, publishes issue positions, debated Sullivan and held a virtual town hall as a House member in 2023.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Ballotpedia race page, Alaska Public Media, Dec. 1, 2023
Dan Sullivan. Took part in a 2026 forum and debate. Declined the joint Alaska media voter guide questionnaire and has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey; his campaign site carries no issue page.
Sources: Ballotpedia race page, Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Ballotpedia, Daniel S. Sullivan
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. Answered the 2026 joint Alaska media voter guide questionnaire and gave interviews to KFSK. Has not completed Ballotpedia's survey; no debate found.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Ballotpedia, Dan Sullivan (Alaska U.S. Senate candidate)
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Gerald Heikes. Lives in Palmer; his filing lists a Palmer address. No FEC itemized contribution data posted for 2026.
Sources: Alaska Division of Elections 2026 general candidate list, Anchorage Daily News, Sept. 1, 2026
Sid Hill. Lives in Palmer; his write-in filing lists a Palmer address.
Source: Alaska Division of Elections 2026 general candidate list
Heather McElwain. Lives in Wasilla; her write-in filing lists a Wasilla address.
Sources: Alaska Division of Elections 2026 general candidate list, McElwain campaign site
Mary Peltola. Born in Anchorage, raised in Kwethluk, Tuntutuliak, Platinum and Bethel; lives in Anchorage. About 10 percent of itemized individual contributions by state through July 29, 2026 came from Alaska (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, New York Times via Philadelphia Inquirer, Oct. 3, 2026
Dan Sullivan. Lives in Anchorage and served as Alaska attorney general and natural resources commissioner. About 16 percent of itemized individual contributions by state this cycle came from Alaska (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: Alaska Division of Elections 2026 general candidate list, Ballotpedia race page
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. Has lived primarily in Petersburg for 46 years. About 79 percent of a small itemized base ($5,650 of $7,150) came from Alaska through July 29, 2026 (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Alaska Division of Elections 2026 general candidate list, FEC candidate page
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. No public record found.
Mary Peltola. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine and no debts reported through July 29, 2026.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00933978
Dan Sullivan. As natural resources commissioner led a department budgeted for 1,132 positions in fiscal 2012. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine and no debts.
Sources: Alaska OMB, DNR fiscal 2012 enacted budget component summary, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00570994
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine; the committee reported $14,780 in debts at July 29, 2026, after $10,400 in candidate loans.
Source: FEC candidate page
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. No public record found.
Mary Peltola. Center for Effective Lawmaking rates her Meets Expectations for the 118th Congress (LES 2.0 of 0.532 against a benchmark of 0.526). GovTrack counts two enacted bills as primary sponsor, both from the 117th Congress.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, Mary Peltola
Dan Sullivan. Center for Effective Lawmaking rates him Meets Expectations for the 118th Congress (LES 2.0 of 0.763 against a benchmark of 0.852). GovTrack counts 31 enacted bills as primary sponsor, including Save Our Seas 2.0.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking Senate dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, Dan Sullivan
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. No public record found.
Mary Peltola. Missed 235 of 1,370 roll call votes, 17.2 percent, from September 2022 to December 2024, against a median of 2.2 percent.
Source: GovTrack, Mary Peltola
Dan Sullivan. Missed 177 of 4,364 roll call votes, 4.1 percent, from January 2015 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, Dan Sullivan
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. No public record found.
Mary Peltola. No public record found.
Dan Sullivan. No public record found.
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. No public record found.
Mary Peltola. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of minus 0.00913 for 2023, the latest posted House scores, ranked 132nd among House members scored.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, 2023 House scores
Dan Sullivan. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of minus 0.14432 for 2023, the latest posted Senate scores, ranked 51 of 98 senators scored.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, 2023 Senate scores
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Gerald Heikes. No public record found.
Sid Hill. No public record found.
Heather McElwain. No public record found.
Mary Peltola. No public record found.
Dan Sullivan. No public record found.
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026; scorecard updated October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Alaska U.S. Senate race?
Dan Sullivan has the strongest record in the Alaska U.S. Senate race. Dan Sullivan scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Mary Peltola at 60 and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. at 56, as of October 6, 2026. Dan Sullivan's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Mary Peltola's highest marks are relevant experience and courage. Gerald Heikes (2 of 15 criteria), Sid Hill (1 of 15 criteria) and Heather McElwain (3 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Alaska U.S. Senate race in 2026?
Gerald Heikes (Republican), Sid Hill (Write-in), Heather McElwain (Write-in), Mary Peltola (Democratic), Dan Sullivan (Republican, incumbent), Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Gerald Heikes a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Gerald Heikes has public evidence on 2 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Sid Hill a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Sid Hill has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Heather McElwain a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Heather McElwain has public evidence on 3 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Mary Peltola a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Mary Peltola scores 60 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 55 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 42 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Dan Sullivan a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Dan Sullivan scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 45 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 58 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. a good candidate for U.S. Senate?
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. scores 56 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 60 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Alaska race scored, and the Alaska 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.