The last time the Landmine covered a Peltola campaign event was November 5, 2024, the night she lost her re-election race for U.S. House to Republican challenger Nick Begich. By the time the Landmine arrived to that event, at 49th State Brewery, the direction of the race had become clear. Peltola had already left, and the few remaining groups huddled and whispered somberly. The only person in good spirits was a lone individual raiding the buffet, which sat largely untouched.

The mood at Peltola’s U.S. Senate race kickoff today, also held at 49th State, could not have been more different. The second floor dining area quickly filled with excited supporters and buzzed with conversation about Peltola’s decision to take on incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan. Campaign workers darted around the room, issuing handwritten press passes on name cards to a handful of local photographers and reporters.

Peltola arrived some time after 3pm, and addressed the room briefly before spending the bulk of her time greeting, speaking with, and taking photos with supporters.

Today’s event marks the start of what is sure to be a contentious race with major implications for the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. Sullivan, who has closely aligned himself with President Trump, has held the seat sought by Peltola since 2014. However, widespread concerns with affordability, economic uncertainty, healthcare access, and Trump’s policies have led many in political circles to view the seat as vulnerable.

According to Politico, Peltola’s campaign raised $1.5m in the first 24 hours after she declared. A Peltola victory would be a major upset, and could potentially flip the U.S. Senate to Democratic control.

The photos below are available for free public us via Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 license. When using the photos please provide the following credit: “Photos used via Creative Commons license courtesy Paxson Woelber, the Alaska Landmine.”