Peltola, Hill visiting Juneau for campaign events Thursday

Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola addresses a crowd during a meet-and-greet for her U.S. Senate campaign at The Crystal Saloon on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

This story will be updated if additional public events by candidates are announced.

The two main challengers in Alaska’s congressional races are scheduled to visit Juneau for public campaign events on Thursday, five days before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola is scheduled to visit Juneau on Thursday for local meetings and events that include a public rally from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Crystal Saloon. Independent U.S. House candidate Bill Hill is scheduled to participate in a meet-and-greet at Amalga Distillery from 4-6 p.m.

A spokesperson for Sen. Dan Sullivan told the Juneau Independent on Thursday he will be in Southcentral Alaska until Election Day. Inquiries on Wednesday to the campaign for Rep. Nick Begich III about possible stops in Juneau before Election Day did not receive a response as of Thursday.

The Senate race is among the most-watched in the U.S. since it is among those considered potentially decisive in which party controls that chamber during the final two years of President Donald Trump’s second term. Peltola has had a slight lead in recent polls, but was hit with what one analyst called a "political bombshell" Wednesday when The New York Times reported her campaign was involved with efforts to recruit spoiler candidates with the same name as the incumbent to confuse voters.

The allegations — raised previously, but denied by her campaign and Democratic party officials — have resulted in a Trump-ordered lawsuit seeking to halt certification of the election if Sullivan narrowly loses, Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordering a criminal investigation and a call for a congressional investigation by Republican leaders.

Peltola said during a campaign stop in Soldotna on Wednesday the Times’ report was a “distraction” from issues such as Sen. Sullivan’s support of the war in Iran, according to news reports.

Hill, trailing Begich in recent polls, is running with support from the Alaska Democratic Party, although he has declined to say if he will caucus with Democrats — or any party — if elected.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.