The number of attack ads targeting Sen. Dan Sullivan over the last year by Democrat-aligned special interest groups is astounding. The 2026 election is 16 months away. It’s clear that the Democratic Party wants to win that Senate seat and is even pressuring Sen. Sullivan to change his stance on key issues advantageous to Alaska.
It hasn’t worked in the past, it isn’t working now, and it won’t work in the future.
In Sen. Sullivan’s 2020 race, he faced a tsunami of “dark money” ads supporting his opponent and was outspent 2-1. Yet, he won handily with a winning percentage approaching 13%, a greater margin than polls predicted.
Five years later, Sen. Sullivan is not taking anything for granted and is gearing up for another battle. So far in 2025, Sullivan’s reelection campaign has raised over $4.8 million total, with more than $3.9 million cash on hand.
More importantly, Sen. Sullivan keeps proving he can deliver on his promises through a series of actions and consequential votes that will benefit Alaskans for generations to come.
Since his 2020 re-election, Sen. Sullivan has focused on numerous issues with beneficial impacts for Alaska including the following:
Economic Development and Resource Expansion: Sen. Sullivan has led the fight to unlock Alaska’s economic potential by advocating for resource development. He supported President Trump’s reversal of Biden’s executive orders preventing Alaska from strengthening our country with our vast energy and mineral resources.
Infrastructure and Public Services: Sullivan has secured billions in federal infrastructure funding to fix Alaska’s roads, bridges, water and sewer systems (especially in Native communities), broadband, and ferry services. All are critical investments given Alaska’s vast size and limited infrastructure compared to other states.
Fisheries and Coastal Community Support: Sen. Sullivan has worked to protect Alaska fishermen and coastal communities by ensuring fisheries open on schedule and challenges such as declining salmon runs on major rivers are addressed.
Military and National Security Strengthening: In light of rising geopolitical threats in proximity to Alaska, Sen. Sullivan has advocated for bolstering national security, with billions anticipated in new military construction in the state.
As a Senate Armed Services Committee member, Sen. Sullivan is a leader in strengthening America’s military services particularly in Alaska and the Arctic. He is frequently a guest of national news outlets commenting on America’s military capabilities and their importance in protecting America’s national security.
As Chairman of the Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Coast Guard, Maritime, and Fisheries, Sen. Sullivan’s top priority has been to expand Coast Guard assets stationed in Alaska.
His actions in conjunction with the rest of the Alaska delegation have resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars of additional investments as well as additional personnel in our region.
The Coast Guard’s presence in the communities of Sitka, Kodiak, Seward, Ketchikan, and Juneau will be strengthened and expanded with the addition of six Fast Response Cutters and the nation’s first polar icebreaker in a generation, the Coast Guard Cutter Storis. The Storis was commissioned on August 10 at 9:30 a.m. in Juneau, where the vessel will be homeported.
The icebreaker funding was secured after four years of advocacy by Sen. Sullivan. His laser-focused commitment to the project spanned two administrations and included regular engagement with senior leaders in the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, National Security Council, Office of Management & Budget, and his colleagues in the House and the Senate.
Dan Sullivan’s dedicated service to Alaska and the nation stands out. Before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014, he served as Alaska’s Attorney General and Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. He also brings the experience and perspective of an infantry officer and recently retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.
Dan and his wife, Julie Fate Sullivan, have spent over 30 years together, beginning their life as a couple in Julie’s hometown of Fairbanks, and later moving to Anchorage to raise their three daughters.
With deep roots in Alaska, Dan has demonstrated an ability to look beyond political divisions to do what’s best for Alaskans.
Critics running negative attack ads won’t change that.
• After retiring as the senior vice president in charge of business banking for KeyBank in Alaska, Win Gruening became a regular Opinion Page columnist for the Juneau Empire. He was born and raised in Juneau and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1970. He is involved in various local and statewide organizations. Columns, My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire. Have something to say? Here’s how to submit a My Turn or letter.
