FULL DEBATE: Alaska Senate ‘Debate for the State’

[0:02] Good evening. Thanks for joining us for the final debate in our Debate for the States series [0:08] tonight for one of Alaska's U.S. Senate seats. We're coming to you live from Alaska Public Media [0:13] on statewide TV, radio, and online. I'm Lori Townsend, tonight's moderator. My colleagues, [0:19] Liz Ruskin, Alaska Public Media's Washington, D.C. correspondent, and Will Courtney, political [0:25] reporter for Alaska's news source, will ask the questions. We have two candidates on the debate [0:30] stage tonight, former U.S. Congresswoman Democrat Mary Peltola and incumbent Senator Republican Dan [0:37] Sullivan. Although four candidates for Senate will be on November's ballot, we invited only candidates [0:43] who received at least five percent of the primary vote. Candidates will have 30 seconds for opening [0:49] comments. The order was determined earlier by drawing numbers. All answers will be timed with the yellow [0:55] light indicating you have 10 seconds left, and the red light followed by a ding means you are out of [1:02] time. Each candidate has up to four 30-second rebuttals to use, and candidates will have the [1:08] chance to ask each other one question. We'd also like to hear from you, our audience. Choose the issue [1:14] that matters most to you. If you are watching, scan the QR code on your screen or go to alaskapublic.org [1:23] slash poll. That's alaskapublic.org slash poll. Now let's get started. Ms. Peltola, your opening [1:30] comments, please. You have 30 seconds. Hello, and thank you for having me. My name is Mary Peltola. [1:36] I'm a lifelong Alaskan, a mother, a grandmother, and I'm running for Senate to take on corruption in D.C. [1:44] and lower costs for Alaskans. Since launching my campaign, I've traveled to communities across the [1:49] state, and everywhere I go, I hear the same thing. Prices are too high, and D.C. isn't working for [1:56] us. I'm in this race to change that. It's time the Senate worked for Alaska, not millionaires, [2:03] billionaires, or corporate greed. Thank you, Ms. Peltola. Mr. Sullivan, 30 seconds. Elections are about [2:08] record, character, and the truth. Julie and I started our family together in Fairbanks over 30 years ago. [2:16] We raised our daughters here and have served our state and our country. I love our great state, [2:24] and I work every day for our families, our fishermen, our energy workers, and the most vulnerable. [2:31] I'm running to build a stronger Alaska and a brighter future for our kids. Thank you, sir. [2:39] The first question is from Liz Ruskin about Iran. Mr. Sullivan, you have supported the [2:46] president's war on Iran and repeatedly voted against a war powers resolution. The war has been going [2:52] on for more than seven months, and Iran hasn't capitulated. What can Congress do to hasten the [2:58] war's end? You have a minute. Liz, I voted for the resolutions because making sure the largest state [3:07] sponsor of terrorism should not have nuclear weapons. And this state sponsor of terrorism has also killed [3:14] thousands of thousands of American troops. We need to open the Straits of Hormuz, make sure Iran [3:20] does not get a nuclear weapon, but it needs to end soon. The energy costs from this war are too high, [3:28] but I will tell you this. The best way to bring down costs with regard to energy in Alaska is to produce [3:36] more Alaskan energy by and for Alaskans. We are doing that. My opponent, when she was in Congress, [3:44] actually voted against producing more Alaskan energy, and she would empower people who won't be doing [3:51] that. So to me, energy costs are going to come down when we produce more American energy. I have a strong [3:58] record of doing that. We are doing that, and that's important. [4:01] To clarify, to hasten the war's end, Congress should do what? I'm sorry, I didn't hear an answer. [4:08] We should be making sure we open the Straits of Hormuz and make sure Iran does not get a nuclear [4:14] weapon. The largest state sponsor of terrorism should not have a nuclear weapon. [4:18] Okay. Ms. Peltola, if you were in the Senate today, would you vote to end U.S. attacks on Iran, [4:25] even without a peace deal in place? What would you support to keep Iran from rebuilding its nuclear [4:33] program? Alaska is strategically placed, and our state was built as a strategic military location. [4:40] We understand the importance of our national security dating all the way back to our elders, [4:46] who are part of the Army National Guard, the Territorial Guard. But prices are too high for [4:51] hardworking Alaskans and D.C. politicians are waging forever wars that are skyrocketing our costs. [4:57] I'll take on the rigged system that allows D.C. to wage forever wars while lining their own pockets. [5:03] I'll make sure we're focused on federal funding for Alaska because I'd rather we spend our money [5:07] here in Alaska on erosion control rather than foreign wars. The incumbent has voted for this price [5:14] hiking war in Iran 14 times. This war is driving up our energy bills and hurting Alaskans with no end in [5:22] sight. I have been a strong supporter of drilling in Alaska. I helped get Willow over the finish line, [5:29] and that is not the issue here. The issue is the Strait of Hormuz being closed and this never-ending war [5:35] in Iran. And if I could clarify, are you saying, what would you do, would you vote to end the war in Iran? [5:44] Even without a peace deal in place? I think a peace deal is so far out of sight, and Iran can weather [5:52] hardships. They are waiting us out. There does not seem to be a peace deal on the horizon, and I think [5:58] it's so important that our military be removed and protected. We've had 20 servicemen die in conflicts [6:06] over there already. That was just a quick clarification. And then, Senator, to take a rebuttal [6:12] opportunity. Look, our military strength matters here. That's why I've been leading the biggest buildup [6:19] of the Alaska military in our history. My opponent has voted against the military buildup in Alaska. [6:26] She's voted against fundraising for pay raises for our troops. And finally, she talks a lot about the [6:32] rigged system. She defines the rigged system. She serves in elected office and then becomes a lobbyist. [6:39] Last year, she was a D.C. lobbyist making almost a half a million dollars. That is the definition [6:45] of a rigged system in our system in D.C. [6:48] And you would like 30 seconds? Our ballistics, our supplies, our weaponry is being reduced. [6:55] When we know we have warships in our waters practicing formations every week, Russians and Chinese ships are in [7:02] our waters. And we are reducing our own capacity to protect ourselves. I have done nothing but fight [7:09] for Alaskans. I voted two times in favor of the pay raise for our troops. I'm very proud of that [7:16] vote. And Dan just keeps telling lies. And Alaskans are sick of it. [7:20] All right. Thank you, Ms. Peltola. We're going to stay on foreign relations. President Trump has not [7:24] always backed Ukraine in its defense against Russia. Should the United States have Ukraine's back? And [7:29] how would you advise President Trump on this issue? You have one minute. We begin with Ms. Peltola. [7:34] Thank you. I think it's so important that we stand with Ukraine and our allies. [7:39] We have been making new adversaries out of our traditional allies across the globe. You see this [7:46] with Ukraine. I think we should be doing everything in our power to help support them, not bolstering up [7:54] Russia. Aid to Ukraine should be continually evaluated and used effectively in efficiency so [8:00] that Alaskans money is spent responsibly. While we support our allies, instead of things like this [8:07] silly trade war, the tariffs with Canada, we are really, I am so ashamed of the way we're turning our [8:14] back on our own allies, our Arctic allies, our Arctic partners. And you see this from Ukraine to Canada to [8:21] Greenland. This is a terrible trend. It's weakening us. It's diminishing our own power. And I think [8:28] that we need to take these things very seriously. All right. Thank you, Ms. Peltola. Mr. Solve, [8:33] can you have a minute? I've been one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine since the war began. And I [8:39] worked closely with the Biden administration when they put forward a supplemental package to the Congress for [8:46] Ukraine. And I shaped that. I led the effort to get that over the goal line in the Senate, even when [8:54] President Trump, who wasn't in office at the time, was opposing it. So I've been a strong supporter [9:00] of Ukraine. I continue to be. I've met with President Zelensky a number of times. But here's the issue. [9:06] As my opponent just said, or what I think is really important, when it comes to national security, [9:14] it starts at home. Like I said, when I came in to the Senate, the Obama administration was doing what [9:19] Democrats in D.C. always do, cutting our military, undermining readiness. My opponent did vote against [9:27] our military, did vote against pay raise for our troops because she wanted more transgender surgeries [9:33] for our troops. That is an outrage for our military. We need to keep building it up. [9:40] You'd like rebuttal time? Yeah, I think that Alaskans have had it up to here with the lying [9:46] and the dishonesty. Dan, you should be ashamed of yourself for propagating these lies. These were [9:53] set up votes. The first time I voted on the NDAA, there was trick language in there that would have [10:00] prohibited our soldiers from getting health care that they needed if they were not stationed in [10:05] a state that didn't allow for women's reproductive health care. I'm not doing that to our soldiers, [10:10] but three other times I voted hard yes in support of our troops. Thank you. President Trump last week [10:19] announced he's lifting sanctions to buy diesel from Russia. A bipartisan group of senators has asked him to [10:25] reconsider saying it helps Russia fund its war on Ukraine and does little for Americans. Mr. Sullivan, [10:32] you were not one of the senators who signed the letter. What do you think of the president's decision [10:37] to import diesel from Russia? You have a minute. Liz, I put a statement out opposing it. I don't think [10:43] it's a good idea at all. I just led the effort on the Russian sanctions act that passed the congress, [10:50] so I'm opposed to that. This is the way in which I work with the Trump administration to get things [10:56] done for our state. Sometimes I oppose things publicly. Other times I forcefully oppose things [11:02] that I think are in our interests in private. Let me give you an example. I've been pressing the [11:09] White House Secretary Hegseth really hard to make sure that we don't do this live streaming of the [11:17] execution of this terrorist. Certainly he needs to be executed, but if you have a live streaming of [11:23] this terrorist, you're going to create more terrorists. So I push back on the administration [11:27] when I think it's in Alaska's interest, in our military's interest. But again, I want to go back [11:33] to military spending. Right now, the Senate majority, the minority leader, Chuck Schumer is blocking defense [11:39] spending. Mary Peltola wants to make him majority leader. Thank you, Senator. That would be a disaster [11:43] for a military. Ms. Peltola, if you were a Senator, would you have asked the President to reverse [11:49] course on the diesel purchase? I would have absolutely asked the President to reconsider that [11:55] terrible decision. Oil is a global commodity and it's priced on a global index. If we're buying [12:04] diesel and oil from Russia, from our known adversary, from somebody who is working [12:12] so diligently against us and our allies, that is just foolish. And I do not think there's any way, [12:19] shape or form the U.S. should be buying anything from Russia. We worked so hard, Dan, on the fishes [12:25] bill to keep Russian trawlers from capturing our fish to go back into paying for this horrible war in Iran. [12:33] They've been bad or this horrible war in Ukraine. They've been battering them for years. And again, [12:38] these are our allies. They're on the front lines fighting for us, fighting for democracy, [12:44] while we're just turning our backs on them. Thank you. All right, let's hear a question from [12:51] a local financial advisor on the future of Social Security. I'm Marietta Hall and I'm a financial [12:58] planner and a lifelong resident of Alaska. Social Security is projected to be 75% funded in the year [13:05] 2032. There have been several proposals to fix this funding, including lowering benefits, [13:11] raising the payroll wage cap, raising payroll taxes, raising investment taxes, [13:17] and raising the eligible collection ages. Which solutions do you support? [13:23] All right, thank you for that question. Ms. Peltolo, we'll start with you. You have one minute. [13:27] I'm so thankful this question was asked. I get calls about Social Security about five times a week [13:32] from elders across our state because Social Security is the bedrock of retirement for so many Alaskans. [13:40] Alaska seniors rely on Social Security and Medicaid, and no senior should have to worry about making [13:46] ends meet or accessing their benefits that they've earned or health care that they need. [13:52] Thanks to DC price hikes and health care cuts, it's getting harder and harder for Alaska seniors to make [13:57] ends meet. And the next senator from Alaska will have to deal with the future of Social Security in [14:03] the next six years to keep the program strong. I will always fight for our seniors' hard-earned benefits. [14:10] And in the Senate, I'll fight to eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits. Who do you want [14:15] fighting for your Social Security? A working Alaskan like me or someone like Dan Sullivan, [14:20] who has repeatedly voted to jeopardize Alaska seniors' hard-earned benefits, including voting [14:25] to raise the retirement age? All right, Mr. Sullivan, you have one minute. Well, I've never voted to [14:30] raise the retirement age, so that's another Mary Peltola lie, which is unfortunate and disappointing, [14:37] but it's been a hallmark of her campaign. Look, I think with regard to Social Security, first and foremost, [14:44] the people in Social Security, we need to make sure it's a lockbox. They're going to get what they [14:49] continue to have. You can't touch it. Same with people who are getting close to retirement. [14:55] You can't touch it. They have been relying on it. But we have all kinds of opportunities with [15:00] bipartisan reforms. It must be bipartisan to move big reforms. Previously, reforms on Social Security [15:07] solvency had to be bipartisan. I'm considering all these. But again, let me talk about my opponent. [15:12] When she was in the state legislature, she voted to get rid of pensions for state workers. And I voted [15:20] for last year Social Security tax cuts for our seniors in the Social Security Fairness Act, [15:27] which restores some of the cuts that Mary Peltola made to our teachers and firemen on their retirement. [15:33] All right. Thank you, Senator. Alaskans say they're having a hard time paying for groceries, [15:37] housing and gas. And in rural Alaska, the average price of a gallon of heating fuel reached a record, [15:43] nearly eight dollars in August. How will you work in Congress to make it more affordable to live in [15:48] this state? Mr. Sullivan, you have 90 seconds. Well, first off, these are really challenges. [15:55] And this is a huge issue that is hurting people across the state. You know, the spikes in inflation [16:04] started under the Biden administration. Same with the spikes in fuel prices. But this is a problem [16:11] that we need to address. Immediately, I've had the White House launch their Alaska Energy Task Force [16:19] that is helping to directly address specific Alaska problems in terms of energy. Let me give you an [16:26] example. We had LIHEAP funding. That's for low-income Alaskans to get more benefits and relief from high [16:36] costs with regard to their utility costs. We've doubled that. But as I mentioned, we also need to [16:46] make sure that we are producing more Alaskan energy for Alaskans. We're doing it. Mary Peltola, when she [16:54] was in Congress, did nothing when the Biden administration issued 70 executive orders. [17:00] She's here. You're not supposed to be interrupting here. Can I get a couple seconds back from [17:06] that interruption? We'll give you five more seconds, Senator. 70 executive orders that shut down our [17:11] state, killed our jobs, and she did nothing, nothing to address that. The other thing we need to do [17:19] is put more money in the pockets of Alaskans. We're doing that with tax breaks for seniors and working [17:26] families. My opponent is actually for tax in Greece. Thank you, Senator. Let's leave it there. [17:30] Thank you, Senator. And now Ms. Peltola, you have 90 seconds. Thanks, Will. Everything costs too much, [17:34] and people are living paycheck to paycheck and even moving to the lower 48. Corporate greed and party [17:40] politics are hurting us and stripping Alaskans of our resources while driving up costs that only benefit [17:46] them. I'll work to make sure Alaska is more affordable by increasing Alaska oil, gas, and renewable energy, [17:52] eliminating the income tax for middle and working-class Alaskans, cracking down on healthcare insurance [17:58] companies while they profit on people's worst moments and force impossible choices on Alaska's [18:05] families. We need to cap out-of-pocket costs on more prescription drugs, and we need to crack down on [18:13] corrupt corporations who are jacking up our prices. I do not think we need any more studies. I do not, [18:20] and I think we need to go so far beyond LIHEAP, the Low Income Heating Assistance Program. [18:26] Everyone, regardless of income, is being crippled by these prices, and it's not just heating oil. [18:34] Our electricity across rural Alaska is powered by diesel generators. I heard, I was up in Northwest [18:41] Arctic Borough the last few days, I heard of a case where in villages there are homes paying [18:48] $1,500 a month just for their electricity. That's not even including their heat. Unfortunately, [18:55] Dan Sullivan has supported a war in Iran that's raised prices on everything from gas to groceries, [19:01] and it's put all of us in a crunch. Thank you, Ms. Peltola. I have some moderator [19:05] question. We weren't supposed to get these questions beforehand, were we? No, sir. Neither [19:10] one of you got questions beforehand. Okay, I'm just watching my opponent. Absolutely not. No, [19:14] that is absolutely not. Thank you. I'm prepared. Questions that seem to be answered. Thank you. [19:20] We've heard a lot about the potential and the dangers of AI, artificial intelligence. Do you think [19:27] tech companies can self-regulate AI, or what principles would you like to see in government [19:33] regulation? Ms. Peltola, we'll start with you one minute. Thanks, Liz. Innovation can never be at the [19:39] expense of our hardworking Alaskan families, and I get the anxiety that families have about how AI can [19:47] impact our jobs and raise our energy costs. For too long, DC has allowed corporate greed to choose [19:54] what's best for our families. I'll fight to ensure that Alaskans' input is heard and respected, [20:02] and I will take action to ensure that our utility bills, our kids, and our jobs are protected. [20:08] The incumbent can't be trusted to do what's right for Alaska when time and time again, he's prioritized [20:15] lower 48 corporations and corporate greed over Alaskans. When it comes to data centers, [20:23] they have got to pay their own way. We know that across Alaska, energy companies, electrical companies, [20:31] have let people, let ratepayers know that their rates are going to go up by as much as 40%. [20:35] We can't have additional drag on our load. I'm sorry, can I give you five seconds to please address [20:42] the question about regulating AI? Yes, AI should be regulated. This is one of the most concerning issues [20:51] that parents face. I mean, we don't even have our arms around social media. Of course, AI needs to be regulated. [20:58] Okay. Thank you. Mr. Sullivan, regulating AI. I just want to make a point though. My opponent keeps [21:05] talking about corporate greed. Again, she defines the rigged system in DC. There's nothing more rigged [21:12] than a member of Congress getting fired and then immediately walking through the revolving door to cash in. [21:19] She made almost a half a million dollars last year as a DC lobby selling her knowledge of DC. She did it [21:30] when she left the state legislature. She set up a lobbying firm. Mayor, you're walking through the [21:34] revolving door so much, you must be getting dizzy up here. So I just want to make that record clear. [21:41] On AI, we just voted on the Senate floor, the AI Responsibility Act. It would make sure and all the [21:49] Democrats in the Senate voted against it. It would make sure that data centers pay their own way. It [21:56] is a good beginning important regulation. I led the efforts on it. We voted on it and unfortunately it [22:03] was blocked by Democrats in the Senate. Did you want 30 seconds? This would be your third rebuttal. [22:07] Okay. Yes, please. Thank you, Lori. Yep. You know, I am so proud of the work that I've done [22:12] over my life for Alaskans. When I lost in 24, I went to work in Anchorage on Alaskan issues, [22:20] municipal issues. Dan's been in DC for 12 years and gotten richer every single one of those years. [22:27] That's the corruption that Alaskans are really sick of and that's the corruption that I'll fight [22:32] against. Dan went to DC with $3 million. He now has $8 million. Dan's doing just fine watching out [22:39] for himself. A reminder that we want to hear from you, our audience, about the issues that matter. [22:46] I'd like to make a rebuttal on that. All right. We'll give you 30 seconds. That's your second one, [22:50] sir. Look, my opponent has been telling lies throughout this entire campaign and it's revealed [22:56] character challenges. But it's not just the lies. Take a look at how she treats Alaskans when the cameras [23:03] are off. Look at that New York Times story. She treats young Alaskans horribly. 25 staffers quit [23:10] on Mary Peltola because she abused them physically and emotionally. And then she slanders every other [23:17] group, African Americans, special needs individuals. It is a character flaw on my opponent. [23:25] Okay, let's have some decorum here. Candidates, please stop. It's the New York Times. Read the article. [23:30] It's unfounded allegations. All right. If I have to have Mike shut off, I will. Please, [23:35] let's respect the time that we have. A reminder that we also want to hear from you, our audience, [23:40] about the issues that matter most to you. If you're watching on TV or online, scan the QR code on your [23:46] screen. It will take you to a live poll. If you're listening on statewide radio, go to alaskapublic.org [23:51] slash poll. We have another question from an Alaskan. Diane Oltice is in Hope and she wants to know, [23:59] the campaign mail and TV ads have been brutal. Can the candidates address the attack ads directed at [24:05] them? Are there any allegations from the ads you would like to rebut? Mr. Sullivan, you can start. [24:11] You have one minute. Yeah. One of the essential lies of the Peltola campaign was this idea that [24:19] I supported not releasing the Epstein files. It's ridiculous. Independent fact checkers have said [24:25] that that is false. Mary Peltola is using victims of Epstein to try to benefit her campaign. It's so [24:36] disappointing, Mary. It's actually disgusting. I have spent my career defending survivors of domestic [24:44] violence, of sexual assault. And in this case, I voted to release the Epstein files and protect the [24:54] victims. She has been running this ad nonstop. It is a smear and it's trying to benefit and re-victimize [25:02] the victims. That's the real sad part about this. When also, uh, Mary Peltola has taken 140,000 in [25:09] Epstein Associates money, paying her salary as we speak. That is a patent lie that is an absolute [25:16] fabrication out of thin air. Dan Sullivan's taken $10,000 that we know of, we can point to. And I'm [25:23] very proud of the fact that in my attack ads and my allegations, we put a QR code so people see the [25:29] citation or they can see the citation on the screen and go and do fact checking on their own. I do not [25:35] have control over PAC money and what other folks are saying about this Dan Sullivan's time in DC. [25:43] I do think it's terrible that we have been inundated as Alaskans with attack ad after attack ad. The, [25:51] the attacks on me have no substance. They say people are dressing me up to look like an Alaskan and that [25:57] when I'm in rooms full of people, they're not our people. What does that even mean? And these attacks, [26:03] lying, saying, I don't support our troops. I have two sons who were enlisted four and enlisted five [26:09] when they got out. They were both on food stamps. I was happy to pay for that, uh, vote for that pay [26:14] raise that our service members hadn't had in 10 years. Thank you candidates. Many Americans lost [26:21] health care coverage after the Affordable Care Act enhanced subsidies ended, leaving thousands without [26:25] health insurance in Alaska. What is the answer for helping Americans access affordable coverage? [26:31] Ms. Peltola, you start with a minute. Thank you, Will. Every Alaskan deserves access to high quality [26:37] affordable health care, but reckless cuts from Washington DC have threatened health care for tens [26:43] of thousands of Alaskans. My immediate priority is reversing the damage to Medicaid and restoring [26:49] health care tax credits that Dan Sullivan voted against seven times. He voted for the big beautiful [26:56] bill and had the audacity to call it Alaska Opportunity Act. This has been the opportunity for [27:01] a third of Alaskans to have their Medicaid benefits reduced. Ten thousand Alaskans immediately off of [27:08] Medicaid. Tens of thousands of Alaskans across our state can no longer afford private health care [27:14] insurance. We've had two clinics close, five are on the chopping block. This affects every single Alaskan and [27:21] every single one of our access to health care. My opponent's, um, votes, um, on the opportunity to rip Alaska [27:31] off, cut Medicaid that Alaskans rely on. All right. Thank you, Ms. Peltola. Mr. Sullivan, you have one minute. [27:37] Mary Peltola once again hasn't done her homework and doesn't know the facts. Uh, the bill she's talking [27:43] about did not cut Medicaid for Alaskans funding for Alaskans at all. What has destroyed Alaska's [27:49] health care is Obamacare. Obamacare destroyed the health care system here. It cranked up insurance [27:56] premiums by almost a thousand percent. We lost almost every insurer. I actually bucked my party, uh, and [28:04] voted to extend the premium tax credits on Obamacare twice. Mary Peltola, when she was in Congress, [28:11] never voted at all to extend premium tax credits. But she did vote to make sure wealthy individuals [28:17] got a $7,000 credit to buy an EV. That's a misplaced priority. But the exciting opportunity here [28:25] is the Rural Transformation Fund. We have the biggest award under that bill that I wrote, $1.4 billion [28:33] to transform Alaska's health care system, which is a great opportunity for all of us. Thank you, [28:38] Senator Sullivan. Uh, many Alaskans are demanding that the trawl fleet catch fewer salmon as they [28:46] target Pollock. Some demand a ban on trawling altogether. Do you support a ban on trawling, [28:52] or what would you do to reduce bycatch? Mr. Sullivan, one minute, please. [28:57] Well, look, fisheries are a huge, huge focus of mine. And again, this is a big difference between me and my [29:03] opponent. She's now run four campaigns, uh, where she's highlighted fish. She's gotten zero done [29:10] on fish. Matter of fact, Mary Peltola has been in Congress two terms. They got zero bills signed into [29:16] law. Zero. And on fisheries, her first term, she talked a lot about fish. She didn't even introduce [29:22] one bill relating to fisheries. I have bills that have passed, strengthening our salmon runs, [29:27] uh, cleaning up our oceans. And yes, the most comprehensive bycatch reduction bill ever. I moved [29:35] it forward. It moved out of the Commerce Committee in a bipartisan way, um, just about a month and a [29:41] half ago. And I brought it to the Senate floor. Every Republican voted for it. Maria Cantwell, the [29:47] Washington state senator, blocked it. She wants to be chairman of the Commerce Committee. If Mary Peltola [29:53] wins, she will be. She protects the trawler. She's giving money to Mary Peltola. Thank you. That's why [29:59] this is so important. Senator Sullivan, I have a follow-up. Do you favor a ban on trawling or, uh, [30:05] any mandated changes in gear types? 30 seconds, please. Yeah, Liz, like I said, my bill is the most [30:11] comprehensive bycatch reduction bill ever. And it would, uh, reduce and dramatically, uh, uh, reduce bottom [30:20] contact. It would require the kind of technology that, uh, you mentioned. It would completely revamp [30:27] the, uh, council process to make it more transparent. And again, it passed out of committee. [30:32] I brought it to the floor. The person blocking it is who Mary Peltola wants to support is the [30:37] Commerce Committee chairman. It'll never pass. Thank you. With Cantwell as chairman. Uh, Ms. Peltola, [30:43] do you support a ban on trawling or what would you do to reduce bycatch? I do support a ban on trawling [30:50] strong fisheries are the lifeblood of our economy, our communities, and our people. Some of the [30:56] fisheries that we have, that have sustained us for generations here in Alaska are suffering at the [31:02] hands of lower 48 factory trawlers, and we need to take action. We need bold action to restore our [31:08] fisheries, which includes banning factory trawling and reducing bycatch, ensuring Alaskans have a seat at [31:14] the table where fishery policy is decided, investing in modern technologies to detect and [31:20] reduce bycatch in real time, investing in our fish byproduct and mariculture economies, [31:26] and instead of joining my efforts in Congress to solve key issues facing Alaska fishermen, Dan [31:32] Sullivan reeled in over $300,000 from trawlers and waited until the 11th hour for a half-hearted [31:40] and half-baked solution on an election year bill that leaves Alaskans on the hook. We definitely need [31:48] to ban trawling. And Ms. Peltola, I also have a follow-up for you. You're calling for a ban, [31:54] if I understand it, on factory trawlers, the largest trawlers. What about the bycatch of the rest of the [32:01] trawl fleet? You know, I think that we should look at buyback options if that's on the table. I think [32:08] that Alaskans are ready to look at every and any solution. And we certainly have Alaska families who [32:16] own smaller vessels, and they do not have the same kind of negative effect that these industrial [32:22] factory trawlers have. They're all based in the lower 48. They're taking all that resource. They're [32:28] taking fishing processing jobs away from our rural communities and processing entirely on the open [32:35] ocean. Did you want 30 seconds, sir? Yes. This is a really important issue, so let's clarify. [32:40] The entire trawl fleet based in Seattle was against my bill, vehemently against my bill, but I work hard. [32:46] I know how to get legislation passed. Again, my opponent, two terms in Congress, zero bills signed into [32:53] law, zero on fisheries, and the key here is who is going to be supporting her. She's getting thousands [33:00] of dollars from Maria Cantwell, the protector of the trawl fleet. Mary Peltola wins, and the Democrats [33:06] take control of the Senate. Cantwell is the chairman of the Commerce Committee and will never get [33:10] bycatch done in the Senate. Let's hear from a young Alaskan now. My name is Sunday, and I'm a student at [33:19] South Anchorage High School, and I'm also a member of Anchorage Youth Vote. My question is, what actions [33:24] would you propose or support to keep kids safe online while protecting their free speech and privacy? [33:29] All right. Online safety. Ms. Peltola, you have one minute. [33:33] Thank you. I'm so thankful that Sunday asked that question. You know, we call it social media, [33:39] but it is not social. It really drives people into spending more time alone, more solitary time. I [33:47] think we know the damaging effect that this quote unquote social media, all the social media platforms [33:53] have on young people. I think that having teen accounts, having parental permission is a good [34:02] start. But these social media companies, they know that they've been injurious to our young people. [34:09] They have not been good partners. They have thwarted all of the efforts that have been made to get our [34:16] arms around this threat to our young people. And young people even talk about it. But it's almost [34:23] like you have to have a social media site so you know what the traffic is, what people are saying about [34:29] you. So they're almost being defensive by having accounts. Mr. Sullivan? Well, this is an area I'm [34:36] going to agree with Mary Peltola on. It's an area I care deeply about. You can have the greatest economy in [34:42] the world and job growth. But if your kids are having high levels of depression, young Alaskans, [34:49] we have to address this. This has been a priority of mine for over a decade when I launched the first [34:55] wellness summit that is addressing youth mental health and addiction. We need to do more on this. [35:03] But we also just passed out a committee. I'm an original co-sponsor of the Kids Online Safety Act. [35:09] Big Tech hates it. Came out of committee strongly again. They killed it in the house a couple years ago. [35:15] But it's giving parents tools on how to best address online safety. And it does provide significant [35:25] responsibilities on the Big Tech companies themselves. It's all a combination. Online, [35:31] depression, addiction. We have to get our arms around the mental health issue for our youth. [35:40] Candidates, we have questions about decorum in office. Ms. Peltola, former staff members have [35:46] alleged that you've subjected them to angry outbursts and used derogatory language. How do you respond to [35:52] these allegations? You have a minute. Thank you. You know, I do not think that this election is about [35:58] me on my worst day. And I found so many of these allegations concerning and outright fabrications [36:06] or mass exaggerations of the truth. What I would like is to have an opportunity to have staff members [36:13] who have worked with me for decades, and we've worked very well together. You know, it's hard not to [36:20] consider staff members part of your family with the amount of time that you spend together, the kind of [36:27] pressure that you endure. And I really am very concerned about making sure that we are respectful [36:35] and respectful of all people. And again, this is not, this campaign is not about me on my worst day. And [36:42] I think it's a real sad statement that I'm such a threat as a candidate that they're just willing to [36:48] do and say anything about me to help Dan win. Thank you. Mr. Sullivan, President Trump has [36:56] verbally attacked and mocked many Americans. That includes people with disabilities and women. [37:02] Why haven't you denounced his derogatory language as aggressively as you have Ms. Peltola's? [37:08] Oh, I have denounced the president's language on these kind of issues. But let me go back to [37:14] what Mary Peltola said. This is the New York Times writing this story. This is not some conservative [37:20] media. And it's not Mary Peltola on her worst day. It's Mary Peltola over a course of a couple years [37:27] with dozens of people weighing in on this. Look, when the cameras are off, it's a different Mary Peltola. [37:34] And what is really disturbing about this, I mentioned 25 staffers quit. That's not just staffers. These are [37:42] young Alaskans. By the way, Alaska, these are your sons and daughters that she treated so poorly that 25 [37:50] would quit. And then she goes to denigrate several other groups, right? Special needs people. I was just [37:58] with the Special Olympics working out with them. They're such a great group of people. How could you [38:03] denigrate them? The gay community, so many others. She even mentioned somebody should die of a botched [38:09] abortion. This is outrageous. Thank you, Senator. Mr. Sullivan, 10 seconds. Can you tell us a time [38:18] that you've denounced President Trump's derogatory language? I've denounced it before. Like his [38:23] Megyn Kelly comments and other things like that. I believe in respect. But I don't think it should [38:29] be fake the way in which my opponent talks about it. This isn't one bad day. This is a character flaw. [38:36] Thank you. Thank you candidates. And again, thank you for coming to this debate as well. We do think [38:40] it's important to the democratic process. We also think journalism is important to a functioning [38:45] democracy. From both your campaigns and elected positions, it's often been difficult to get responses [38:50] from you. How will you engage with local media while in office? Mr. Sullivan, you have one minute. [38:56] Look, I try to answer questions from our media all the time. It's not always in interviews, [39:01] but certainly in written form. And I come home pretty much every weekend when I've been in office. [39:09] Look, I work hard in this job. I engage with Alaskans throughout the state, [39:14] and I think that's important. And I also believe it's important to engage with our media. But I work [39:21] hard. And I want to mention a thing about my opponent. She doesn't have that reputation. She missed [39:27] almost 20 percent of her votes in the House, almost 20 percent of her votes when she was in the State [39:33] House, almost 40 percent of her meetings when she was in the Bethel City Council. 16 years in elected [39:42] office, 16 years of not showing up for Alaskans. Alaska, imagine if you told your boss you were going to [39:49] take one day off per week. Your boss would fire you. And that's what happened to Mary Paltola last election. [39:56] All right. Now she wants a promotion. Thank you, Senator Sullivan. Mary Paltola, [39:59] the same question for you. How will you engage with local media while in office? You have one minute, [40:02] ma'am. Thank you. I really prided myself the two years, the just two years, the one term and five [40:10] weeks that I served as Alaska's representative. I prided myself in making myself available to Alaskan [40:18] press especially. I really demurred from national attention, from national outlets. I think it's so [40:25] important that Alaskans are hearing from me directly. And I think that the press corps in [40:31] Liz Ruskin can attest to I made myself very available all the time for various stories. [40:39] And I came home a lot. There were nine weekends in a row where I came home. You know, I am so proud of [40:47] the work that I did the two years that I served in the U.S. Congress. I was boots on the ground in Alaska [40:53] so often. And that, you know, it takes a day to fly back. It takes a day to fly to Alaska. This adds up. [41:01] And again, I am so proud of my accomplishments in Washington, D.C. Thank you, Ms. Peltola. [41:07] Thank you, candidates. Let's check on our current poll results. A reminder, if you're watching on [41:12] TV or online, you can scan the QR code on your screen to take our live poll about what matters [41:17] most to you. If you're listening on statewide radio, go to alaskapublic.org slash poll to engage. [41:24] And currently, we see 33 percent of Alaskans who weighed in cite the cost of living as their biggest [41:30] concern. 32 percent are interested in resource development. And 12 percent cite health care. [41:39] Now candidates can ask each other a question. Mr. Sullivan, you have 20 seconds to ask. [41:46] Ms. Peltola, you will have one minute to answer. And then, Mr. Sullivan, you will have 30 seconds to respond. [41:51] So, Mary Peltola, you once said the worst vote you took in the Alaska legislature was your vote to get [41:57] rid of pensions for teachers, troopers, nurses, and other hardworking Alaskans. Why is that worse than [42:04] your vote to impose a state income tax on hardworking Alaskans and your vote twice to cut our PFD? [42:12] You know, I... Oh, thank you, Dan. I served for 10 years in our state legislature on the House side, [42:20] and I was the chair of the Alaska Bush Caucus. We represented the most remote communities in Alaska. [42:29] And even the 10 years that I served in the state legislature from 1999 to 2009, every year we were on [42:36] the precipice of running out of our savings, of our constitutional budget reserve, having to dip into [42:44] the permanent fund, which we're all loath to do. And I was part of groups, coalitions of Republicans and [42:50] Democrats, classic me, working in a bipartisan way, not mudslinging. We had five Democrats and five [42:58] Republicans in the bipartisan Bush Caucus. And we worked hand in glove together with people from all [43:04] out over our state to come up with ideas. Obviously, those haven't been put into fruition, because here we [43:11] are still on the precipice of budget failure. Thirty seconds, sir. Well, this is another major difference [43:17] between me and my opponent. I cut taxes last year for working families. No tax on tips, no tax on overtime. [43:24] Six thousand dollar tax break for our seniors. Mary Peltola said she opposed that entire bill. She's criticized that [43:32] legislation. But here's the Peltola plan. Based on her record, an income tax increase, cuts to our PFD, [43:39] gutting the pensions of hardworking Alaskans, and working with the Biden administration to kill energy jobs. [43:46] That's not a plan for Alaska. Mary Peltola, or Ms. Peltola, you have 20 seconds to ask your question. [43:52] Okay. Those were bipartisan coalition compromise decisions. Those were bipartisan plans. Get your question. [44:02] The question? Okay, gladly. Dan, since the passage of your one big beautiful bill, tens of thousands [44:07] of Alaskans have no private health care insurance. And what do you have to say to the Alaskans who are [44:13] now going without life-saving insurance? Thank you. You have one minute, sir. [44:18] Yeah, the Working Families Tax Cuts Act did not touch Medicaid, funding for Alaska, Medicare, or Social [44:26] Security. Any ad that says that is false. As a matter of fact, I was able to get a provision in [44:32] that bill to increase the federal match for Medicaid. I've been working on that for over 10 years [44:38] to increase it to 65% for Alaska. It would have been $200 million more annual increase to Medicaid. [44:46] Senator Schumer stripped that out of the bill. Senator Schumer is who you want to make majority [44:52] leader. That was a betrayal of Alaskans. So what did we do? We pivoted. We built out this huge [44:58] rural transformation fund. I doubled the number to $25 billion or $50 billion for the country and made [45:06] it very focused on Alaska. That's why we got the biggest award to address health care challenges [45:13] with $1.4 billion with Alaskans writing the plan. It's a great opportunity and I'm proud that we've got [45:20] that done in the bill. Ms. Peltoli, you have 30 seconds. Yes, health care professionals around the [45:24] state are having challenges finding creative ways to spend that money because there are so many [45:31] sideboards put on that money where we can't solve Alaska challenges with Alaska solutions because of [45:38] those prohibitive sideboards. And again, thousands of Alaskans are off of private health care insurance [45:45] because of the ACA tax credit cuts. This is damaging tens of thousands of Alaskans every day. [45:54] Can I respond to that? You have, this is your final rebuttal. Okay. You want to use it? I do. Okay, 30 seconds. [46:00] Again, I voted for the extension of the premium tax credits twice. Bucked my party on that. You never [46:07] voted for extending premium tax credits even though you could have when you were in the house. But look, [46:13] I just want to ask my opponent, $1.4 billion to reimagine our entire health care system is a great [46:21] opportunity. And do you agree that that's a good part of the bill? I've been all over the state [46:27] seeing the awards that have come out. It is innovation. It's a great opportunity for our great state. [46:32] All right. Thank you, Senator. Let's talk about the LNG pipeline. Candidates, you both have praised [46:37] the Korea deal announced as monumental as from the president, but Korean leaders say they are not [46:42] committed to investing in the Alaska natural gas pipeline. What do you tell Alaskans who see [46:47] another gas line promise they've heard for the last 50 years? Mr. Sullivan, we begin with you. You [46:51] have one minute. Well, look, I've been working on this project my entire career. It's so important. [46:56] This will be the project that changes the Alaska future. This will be the project that keeps our kids [47:02] and our grandkids here low cost energy for 50 to 100 years. And I've pressed this administration [47:09] relentlessly to get behind it. And you've seen what the president and his team they have. It's in the [47:16] Korean trade agreement that they should invest in it. It's actually in the deal. There's domestic [47:21] politics that are happening in Korea, but the president of Korea has come back saying they're [47:25] committed to it. It has to be reasonable terms, but they've committed a huge amount of money. So have [47:30] the Taiwanese when you saw the president announce this. But again, this is a difference with my opponent. [47:35] I have no idea where she stands on the Alaska LNG project. She's got a lot of staff who certainly [47:42] have come out against it. She hasn't talked about it hardly at all. And here's the other thing. In 2008, [47:48] she took a vote on the gas line, but she missed the vote. She missed the vote to advance the gas line. [47:54] Again, not showing up for work on a critical issue for Alaska. Mr Sullivan, I have a follow-up question for [47:58] you. I'm going to ask you another question about the gas line because the president continues to say the [48:02] South Korea agreement is actually happening. He did so at that rally just a few days ago. But how does [48:07] this claim anything more than a campaign pitch to help you get elected? You have 30 seconds. [48:12] Well, Will, it's not about that at all. And you and I have talked about it. The Korean trade agreement [48:18] with the United States has a $350 billion provision to invest in America. That has been passed by the [48:24] Korean legislature. $150 billion for shipbuilding, $200 billion for additional projects. One of the [48:30] additional projects, which was announced at the Oval Office, was our project. And it's in the joint [48:36] Korean-U.S. trade deal. The amount of money is still being negotiated, but the Koreans have appropriated [48:42] the money and committed to the AKLNG project. Mr Sullivan, thank you. Ms. Peltola, I'm going to ask the [48:46] same question of you. What do you tell us who see this gas line promise as the same thing they've heard [48:51] for the last 50 years? Well, I am in strong support of a liquefied natural gas pipeline. Most reasonable [48:58] Alaskans are. I think most of us have, we know the old refrain, dear God, give us one more boom and we [49:04] promise we won't squander this one. There has been so much effort at finding investors, at finding a way [49:12] to make this an actuality. This has been talked about for decades. And of course, we all desperately want [49:20] more gas and oil production in Alaska. Gas and oil will always be part of our energy portfolio. [49:27] We know that. And I am very interested in making sure that there are project labor agreements that [49:34] we're not foregoing property taxes in the North Slope Borough, that we're not leaving money on the [49:40] table and not getting all of the royalties that we deserve. But I just think it's really important [49:47] that we manage expectations and not be promoting falsehoods that just have no substance. [49:52] All right. Thank you, Ms. Peltola. And I have a follow-up question for you as well. Once the [49:56] president made this announcement about the South Korea deal, you praised your own efforts from your [50:01] time in the legislature and your time in the House as well. But like I asked Mr Sullivan, the gas line [50:05] doesn't seem to be any closer to being reality. How have you made the gas line any closer to reality? [50:10] You'll have 30 seconds. Well, you know, I even after we got Willow through, I was even [50:17] making hard sell cases with the Biden administration to help us with the LNG plant, help us with the LNG [50:24] pipeline and making sure that we can get more development in Alaska. The Willow project was a good [50:31] start. But we all know that we've been in an economic slump for over 10 years in Alaska. We have [50:37] out-migration every year. We're all concerned about our economy in Alaska. Thank you, Ms. Peltola. [50:43] In 2019, Attorney General William Barr visited rural Alaska and declared the lack of law enforcement [50:50] and emergency and allocated $10 million to support rural law enforcement. There is still very little [50:58] local police presence in most rural Alaska communities. What do you think is needed to [51:04] support these communities and what is the role of the Department of Justice? You have 45 seconds. Ms. Peltola. [51:14] Yeah, when I served in the state legislature, I was on the budget subcommittees for public safety, [51:19] courts and corrections. There's nothing more important to me than the safety of every single Alaskan in every [51:26] single community. Even our smallest communities have big city crime. But DC politicians like Dan would [51:34] rather use this as a wedge issue than solve the actual problem. Like you said, Liz, we have had two [51:41] separate federal, huge federal investments, one by the Trump administration and one by the Biden [51:46] administration. And both times we had a governor who was willing to take back the state portion so it was [51:53] still a break even. We have got to get better law enforcement throughout our state. Thank you. Mr. [52:00] Sullivan, 45 seconds. Liz, very quickly though, back to the LNG point. Again, Mary Peltola had, there was a vote [52:07] in 2008 in the legislature to advance the gas line. She missed the vote. She didn't show up. That's a pattern [52:14] with her. 20% of the votes in the legislature. That's unacceptable, Alaska, especially on something of that [52:21] importance. But look, the law enforcement in rural Alaska has been a passion of mine since my time [52:27] as attorney general. When I launched the Choose Respect campaign, all about addressing the challenges [52:32] of domestic violence and sexual assault. I'm the one who encouraged Attorney General Barr and Liz, [52:38] it was a lot more than 10 million. It was more like 60 million. We need to do much more and we need to [52:44] stop the flow of fentanyl into our native villages, which is killing and poisoning our young people. [52:50] All right, let's get to some lightning round questions now before closing comments. Candidates, you will have [52:55] up to 15 seconds to answer and you cannot ask for a rebuttal during the lightning round. At the Wasilla [53:02] rally, t-shirts were sold that promoted a third Trump administration. Would you support a third term for [53:08] the president? Ms. Peltola, you have 15 seconds. No, I would not. I think that it's really important that we keep the [53:14] custom of having, you know, and the letter of the law and follow the rule of law, which is two terms for [53:21] every president. If you can't get it done in eight years, why have four more? Thank you, Ms. Peltola. [53:28] Mr. Sullivan? No, absolutely not. It would be unconstitutional and I don't support that at all. [53:34] Thank you, Mr. Sullivan. Super PACs and outside groups have spent 66 million dollars so far to influence who [53:42] wins this race. Do you support limits on this kind of political spending? Mr. Sullivan, 15 seconds. [53:50] Well, the Supreme Court has already made this a free speech issue and so I think it's up to the [53:56] courts in terms of the First Amendment. But I will tell you this, my opponent has raised an ungodly [54:01] amount of money from lower 48 groups that want to harm Alaska. Her last... [54:05] Thank you. Ms. Peltola, limits on outside spending. Thank you, Liz. I'm being outspent three to one [54:13] right now because of Dan's supporters, specifically Elon Musk, and of course I would support limiting [54:20] outside money. We should have a one-month campaign with a max of a million dollars. We should have, [54:25] we should do away with Citizens United. The federal debt is 40 trillion dollars. What's one thing you [54:32] would propose to significantly reduce the debt? Ms. Peltola, 15 seconds. [54:36] Clearly, I would support getting out of these forever wars like the war that is happening right [54:41] now in Iran that Dan has voted for 14 times. We have seen our prices go through the roof and it's [54:49] not going to the federal deficit. It's going to corporate greed. [54:52] Thank you, Ms. Peltola. Mr. Sullivan, 15 seconds. [54:54] Well, there's my opponent again saying she wants to defund the military, which has been her record. [55:00] Look, the most important way to get out of a debt like this, and we have done it before as a [55:03] percentage of GDP, is to have strong economic growth. That's what I'm focused on every day. [55:09] Thank you, Mr. Sullivan. [55:11] What's one nice thing you would say about your opponent? Mr. Sullivan, 15 seconds. [55:18] Well, my wife invited Mary to attend my Marine Corps retirement ceremony after 30 years, [55:25] and they honored me, but they honored my wife and daughters more than anybody at my retirement [55:30] ceremony after 30 years of honorable service, and Mary Peltola attended. [55:33] Thank you. Ms. Peltola, one nice thing about your opponent. [55:37] Yeah, that was a lovely, lovely service, and I was so proud to be there. And one, [55:43] you know, three wonderful attributes of Dan and Julie are their lovely daughters, [55:48] so that's three lovely things I can say about Dan and Julie. [55:50] Thank you. All right, thank you. It's time now for closing comments. Candidates, [55:54] you have one minute. We determined the order earlier. Ms. Peltola, your closing comments, [55:58] please. Thank you so much again for having me. Since Dan Sullivan has been in D.C., it's only gotten [56:05] harder to build a life in Alaska. Young people are being priced out of Alaska as prices rise and [56:11] abundance turns to scarcity. Corporate greed and corruption have taken over D.C., and Dan Sullivan [56:17] has taken their side every step of the way. He's voted for this price hiking war in Iran 14 times. [56:23] He's voted to cut ACA tax credits for Alaskans across our state. He's taken nearly $300,000 from [56:32] industrial factory trawlers and has stood by as some of our fisheries are collapsing before our eyes. [56:38] But Dan is doing just fine. While Alaskans are living hand to mouth, he's gotten three times richer [56:44] since being in the Senate. Alaska, you know what good leadership looks like. Ted Stevens and Don Young [56:50] showed us. You deserve a leader who will answer to you, who will put Alaska first, [56:57] not their own personal stock portfolio. Thank you. Mr. Sullivan, one minute. Well, [57:02] I hope you've heard the contrast between me and Congresswoman Peltola. By the way, [57:07] Ted Stevens and Don Young would be definitely supporting me, not her, and certainly not Chuck [57:12] Schumer as Senate Majority Leader. After 16 years in elected office, Congresswoman Peltola has a record [57:18] of not showing up or delivering for Alaskans. And when the cameras are off, her character is really [57:24] revealed, and it is not good. There's no doubt we have challenges right now, particularly the high [57:29] costs of energy. But the best way to address that is to produce more Alaskan energy by and for Alaskans. [57:36] She's not for that, I am. But we also have generational opportunities before us [57:40] that I've been honored to lead on. The gas line, the energy resurgence on the North Slope, [57:45] the biggest military buildup in our state's history, redesigning an entire healthcare system that works [57:51] for Alaska. Alaskans are the hardest working people in the world. They need a senator who works hard with [57:58] them and delivers for them. I'll continue to do that. I'd be honored by your vote. All right, [58:04] thanks to our candidates and reporters Liz Ruskin and Will Courtney. That concludes debate for the [58:08] state for Alaska's U.S. Senate seat.