Thursday night’s Senate debates in Alaska and Maine underscored how personal the contests have become and how President Trump’s war in Iran has become a political liability for Republican incumbents.
Alaska debate: Sullivan vs. Peltola
Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan pressed Democratic challenger Mary Peltola on her “character” and cited a New York Times report alleging staff mistreatment. Peltola dismissed the claims as “gossip” and “unfounded allegations,” noting she has struggled with grief after the loss of her mother and husband in 2023.
Sullivan also warned that the war in Iran has driven up energy costs for Alaskans. “The energy costs from this war are too high,” he said, adding that the best way to lower costs is to produce more energy “by and for Alaskans.” He reiterated his opposition to limiting President Trump’s powers in Iran, emphasizing the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, but urged that the war “needs to end soon.”
Peltola countered by blaming Washington politicians for “waging forever wars that are skyrocketing our costs” and affirmed her support for responsible drilling in Alaska, stating that drilling is not the core issue of the debate.
Maine debate: Collins vs. Jackson
In Maine, Democratic nominee Troy Jackson told moderate Republican Sen. Susan Collins to “shut up” after she suggested a protester was one of his supporters. The protester had interrupted the debate, shouting that AI data centers are destroying the climate and poisoning waters.
Collins accused Jackson of not sharing his FEC report on time, a promise he made earlier in the week. Jackson explained the delay was due to processing donations from 200,000 supporters. He also defended his refusal to take corporate PAC money, while acknowledging his campaign has received contributions from wealthy donors.
When pressed about the Iran war, Collins reiterated that Congress should have been consulted before President Trump decided to go to war. She noted that the War Powers Resolution gave Trump flexibility for the first 60 days, which is why she did not begin voting to rein in his war powers until after that period.
Common themes
Both debates highlighted the challenge Republican candidates face in distancing themselves from President Trump’s foreign policy decisions while still appealing to their base. Sullivan’s call for an end to the Iran war and Collins’s insistence on congressional consultation reflect a growing tension within the GOP as the war’s domestic costs become a campaign issue.
Meanwhile, the candidates in both states used personal attacks to draw sharp contrasts, with Jackson accusing Collins of looking down on working‑class people and Peltola defending her record against staff‑mistreatment allegations.
The races remain critical to the Senate balance of power, with Collins seeking re‑election in a traditionally blue state and Sullivan fighting to retain his seat in a GOP‑leaning Alaska.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
