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By Dan Gooding
Associate News Editor
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Republican Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan has sought to portray his midterm rival, Democrat Mary Peltola, as out of touch, after images emerged showing the former congresswoman flying first class, even though federal financial disclosures paint a different picture of the two candidates' personal finances.
Incumbent Sullivan holds millions of dollars in investments and real estate assets, while Peltola's last congressional filing showed relatively modest retirement savings alongside a mortgage and consumer debt. The contrast comes as many Alaskans have voiced their concerns about affordability—one of the dominating topics of this year's midterms.
"Candidate wealth and campaign contributions play a major role in how voters assess politicians. Voters want politicians to be public servants who will work to enact policies that benefit all Americans, not just the wealthy and the well-connected," Michael Beckel, director of money in politics reform at Issue One, told Newsweek.
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"Voters want politicians who are motivated by public service and won’t use their positions of power for personal financial gain," Beckel said. "Voters are hungry for politicians who will enact major reforms to our political system to help it work for everyone, not just the billionaires and wealthy corporations. That’s why these issues have increasingly been in the spotlight in Alaska and other states across the country."
What Dan Sullivan's Financial Disclosures Show
Sullivan's 2025 Senate disclosure lists extensive investment holdings, with a stake in RPM International—his family's chemical company—appearing to be his largest asset between $1 million and $5 million.
The filing also shows the senator owns a rental property valued at up to half a million dollars and multiple Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) worth several thousand dollars.
According to Quiver Quantitative, Sullivan made around $300,900 on the stock market in May alone. The site estimates his net worth at around $8.4 million, making him the 124th-highest net worth in Congress.
Newsweek reached out to Sullivan's campaign for comment on Monday afternoon.
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How Mary Peltola's Finances Compare
Peltola also filed a financial disclosure in 2025, before her term in the House of Representatives ended. Her document showed a different financial picture than her GOP rival's.
The filing showed Peltola with retirement accounts worth between $15,000 and $50,000, as well as a 529 plan worth a similar amount. House disclosures do not provide exact figures, so they usually list ranges instead.
Peltola also said she still had a mortgage worth between a quarter and half a million dollars, and between $10,000 and $15,000 in credit card debt. While she did list some investments, the list was far smaller and had lower value ranges than the one filed by Sullivan.
Peltola's campaign told Newsweek she was worth between $62,006 and $230,000, adding that she owned no stocks.
"Mary has spent her entire life fighting for Alaska communities, and she will continue to do so in the United States Senate," a spokesperson for her campaign told Newsweek. "While Dan Sullivan has tripled his wealth in office and made up to two million dollars as one of the most prolific stock traders in the U.S. Senate, Mary has been taking on the rigged system in DC that has been propped up by Sullivan and his special interest backers.
"Mary is an independent voice who will stand up to anyone to put Alaska first, but Dan Sullivan has shown time and time again that he’ll sell out Alaskans to benefit his bottom line at every turn."
Why Candidate Wealth Has Become Part of the Campaign
Sullivan and his allies criticized Peltola for flying first class when images emerged late last week.
In a post on X, Sullivan's campaign said, "First Class Mary. Alaska Last," suggesting her flying in the front of a plane made her seem out of touch.
The post drew some criticism, including from former GOP Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who said Peltola may not have paid for the seat.
"Free upgrades are expected when you fly that much and shed be absolutely stupid to not take it," he wrote on X. "Dan Sullivan flies on govt 737s ALL THE TIME, which is fine, but way more costly."
Others on X pointed to Alaska's disconnectedness from the rest of the U.S., saying this often meant Alaskans flew farther, earned more miles and often scored upgrades as a result.
That potential reasoning for Peltola's first-class seat might diminish, but not entirely erase, the issue of money during an election when many voters are thinking about their own financial situations.
"Too often, political war chests—campaign committees and so-called leadership PACs—enable politicians to enjoy perks on someone else’s dime that ordinary citizens can only dream of," Beckel said, adding that there were no rules barring senators from using campaign cash for first-class travel, unlike their counterparts in the House.
"If Senator Sullivan is genuinely interested in banning members of Congress from using campaign funds or leadership PAC funds to pay for first class or private travel, he could lead the charge by sponsoring legislation to make that a rule for everyone," Beckel said.
Affordability Remains a Top Alaska Concern
A recent AARP survey showed rising prices and affordability as the dominant issue for voters asked, with 42 percent putting it as their first or second most important issue when voting this November. 51 percent of participants said they were worried about their personal financial situation.
Peltola has spoken frequently about affordability, rolling out a specific plan in May built around reducing household costs and increasing government support for families.
She has said she will seek to eliminate federal income taxes for those earning less than $92,000 a year, restore and expand the Child Tax Credit, and introduce tax credits for renters and childcare facilities. The Democrat has also advocated expanding Alaska's energy production to drive down costs.
Sullivan, meanwhile, has looked more toward economic growth than household costs, arguing that the state will become more affordable if it develops its energy resources and expands the private sector. He has supported President Donald Trump's tax cuts and advocated small-business tax relief.
In his latest campaign ad, Sullivan blames the Biden administration for the higher costs Alaskans face.
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Peltola vs. Sullivan: What Latest Polls Say
The most recent AARP poll, conducted September 8-11 among 800 likely voters, showed Peltola with a slight lead over Sullivan—46 percent to 41 percent. Under the state's ranked-choice system, Peltola would end up with 53 percent of the vote, the poll said.
Overall, per Real Clear Polling, the race appears to be a toss-up, with Peltola on 50.3 percent and Sullivan on 48 percent.
Prediction markets give a slightly different picture, with Peltola showing a stronger lead. As of Tuesday, Polymarket showed Peltola with a 73 percent chance of winning compared to Sullivan's 29 percent. Kalshi showed a 70-30 percent split in the Democrat's favor.
Latest Developments in the Alaska Senate Race Between Mary Peltola and Dan Sullivan
Peltola has spent the past few days on X emphasizing affordability, posting a photo of a gas station receipt showing a customer paying $24.29 a gallon in rural Noatak.
"Alaska families are being crushed by the unaffordable cost of living, and Dan Sullivan keeps on voting for the war that’s making everything more expensive. Alaska needs change," she posted.
She has also posted multiple times about Sullivan's net worth and investments, accusing him of corruption.
Sullivan's campaign has not posted to X since its post on Peltola's first-class flight.
Why the Alaska Senate Race Matters in the 2026 Midterms
The Alaska race is drawing attention because Democrats see it as an opportunity to flip a red seat blue and take back control of the U.S. Senate.
Unlike in other GOP-leaning states where Democrats are looking to flip a seat, Peltola has a unique advantage: she has already shown she can attract native voters, organized labor, moderate Republicans and independents after her House win in 2022.
The race is being viewed as somewhat of a referendum on the state's political identity and whether it remains strongly Republican or willing to accept a more independent or left-leaning voice.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Sam Wilson.
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