Alaska Senate Debate Sees Candidate Peltola Mocked for Using Cue Cards

Alaska Democratic Senate hopeful Mary Peltola faced criticism and mockery on Thursday evening for her apparent use of cue cards during a debate with Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. GOP critics, including Sullivan himself, seized on the moment, with the incumbent senator writing on X that Peltola "can’t cue-card your way through the Senate."

Peltola, a former congresswoman, is in a closely contested race against Sullivan for an Alaska Senate seat. The criticism began when social media users and commentators noted Peltola appearing to consult a notecard with bullet points while answering questions.

"Mary, blink twice if you are okay. It seems you can’t string a sentence together without reading from the talking points your Lower 48 handlers wrote you," wrote NRSC official Joanna Rodriguez on X.

Another social media user commented on Peltola's apparent reliance on notes, stating, "Mary Peltola can’t read her name or that she’s a grandmother without needing a cue card."

At one point, after Peltola appeared to refer to her card again, Sullivan interjected to ask the moderators if they had provided the questions beforehand. The moderators confirmed they had not.

Peltola defended her actions, stating that she was better "prepared."

The Republican Party's research arm also highlighted a video clip of Peltola using the notecard, tweeting, "Mary Peltola — who did not introduce a single bill to help Alaska fisherman during her first term in Congress — has to read off of a script when talking about Alaska’s fishing industry."

The debate also touched on allegations that Peltola mistreated former staffers, which she has denied as "outright fabrications or mass exaggerations of the truth." Sullivan suggested the allegations reflected a pattern of behavior, while Peltola accused him of using the controversy for political gain.

Discussions also included the proposed Alaska liquefied natural gas pipeline. Both candidates expressed support for the project's economic potential but acknowledged uncertainty regarding foreign investment commitments. Sullivan defended the administration's efforts, while Peltola cautioned against promoting unsubstantiated expectations.

Peltola, who previously made history as the first Democrat in decades to represent Alaska in the House, faces Sullivan in a race considered a toss-up by The Cook Political Report. The outcome could significantly impact the balance of power in the Senate.