LETTER: Senator must look out for the unique needs of Alaska
Published 1:30 am Saturday, September 5, 2026
During our 80 years in Alaska, we have seen many Territorial and U.S. senators represent Alaska. Gruening, Stevens and lately Murkowski, have seemed to understand their job was to do what was best for the country while looking out for the unique needs of Alaska. Senator Sullivan has failed Alaska by rubber stamping legislation which provided tax breaks for the rich while increasing costs of and cutting needed services for Alaska.
Essential federal jobs have been cut. Emergency assistance for disasters has been cut. Healthcare for veterans and for those Alaskans least able to afford private health insurance has been compromised not only by staff and funding cuts but also by unqualified and incompetent leadership. Health insurance has become unaffordable. Inflation has increased.
The national debt has soared and we are bogged down in a war that is depleting our armament supplies and weakening our ability to defend ourselves. Experienced career military personnel have been forced out for political reasons.
We are voting for Mary Peltola. Her experience as a state legislator and as our representative to Congress gives us confidence. In Congress she supported and worked for the bipartisan infrastructure legislation that provided more dollars per capita for Alaska than for any other state. We need roads, bridges, airports, water systems, funding for education and healthcare, not for private prisons and unlimited budgets for immigration enforcement or schemes to increase the wealth of the political elite.
Mary Peltola was born and raised in Alaska; she didn’t move here to become a senator. She will make independent decisions on what is best for the country and Alaska.
Jean Ann and Jim Alter
