With Air Force Two as backdrop, JD Vance makes the case for Sen. Dan S. Sullivan in Fairbanks

By SUZANNE DOWNING

Oct. 6, 2026 – Vice President JD Vance brought the national battle for control of the Senate to Alaska on Monday, joining Sen. Dan Sullivan before an enthusiastic crowd of about 1,000 and delivering a sharp critique of Democrat Mary Peltola’s record in Congress.

Sullivan, seeking a third term in the Nov. 3 election, used the rally to draw a particularly pointed contrast for Interior voters: his work for Fairbanks versus Peltola’s repeated failure to even show up for the community.

The door of the hangar at Fairbanks International Airport stood open, with Air Force Two providing the backdrop. American and Alaska flags flanked the stage, along with signs bearing the message “Defend Our Future.”

Music from “Top Gun” blared as the vice president’s aircraft landed. When Vance approached the podium, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” played. The crowd greeted his arrival and remarks with roaring enthusiasm. The October weather was mild by Fairbanks standards, and the reception inside the hangar was warmer still.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy and Congressman Nick Begich were also in attendance.

The trip marked Vance’s first visit to Alaska.

Vance pulled no punches in portraying Peltola as aligned with the national Democratic agenda, arguing that Alaska’s Senate race carries consequences for energy development and the direction of the country.

“The Democrats are obsessed with this state this cycle,” Vance told the crowd. He warned that Democrats see Alaska as an opportunity to gain power and reverse the administration’s agenda.

What did Mary Peltola do for Alaska’s fishermen when she was in office? Not a damn thing,” Vance told the crowd. “Sen. Dan Sullivan is the exact opposite. He banned fish imports from Russia… he’s guaranteed fishermen have a voice… fighting for Alaska’s fishermen every single day.”

Sullivan brought that argument home to Fairbanks.

He told the crowd that Peltola closed the Fairbanks congressional office during her time in the House, ending a local presence that he said had existed for more than 40 years.

He also pointed out that she refused to meet with University of Alaska Fairbanks representatives and local hospital officials, and  declined to participate in the Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce debate this month.

Those examples illustrate a broader failure to engage with an Interior community whose university, health care institutions and businesses are major drivers of Alaska’s economy.

His criticism extended to Peltola’s attendance in Congress. Sullivan said she missed approximately one in five House votes, casting her record as one of absence when Alaskans needed representation.

The crowd loudly booed during several instances when Peltola’s name was mentioned.

Sullivan also revisited the Alaska’s Right to Produce Act, reminding the crowd that Peltola kowtowed to then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi and encouraged Democratic colleagues to oppose legislation she had herself cosponsored. It was an example of her public-facing support for Alaska resource development and what she really did when it came time to vote. She voted “present.”

The two speakers framed the contest as a choice between advancing Alaska projects and returning influence to a party that obstructs the state’s economic progress.

Sullivan’s most locally pointed argument centered on Fairbanks itself: whether Interior voters could count on their senator to maintain a presence, meet with major institutions, and show up when decisions affecting Alaska were being made.

Vance’s appearance gave Sullivan both a prominent endorsement and a national platform. The crowd roared with approval and waved signs enthusiastically.

With Air Force Two visible through the open hangar and the crowd cheering, Monday’s rally delivered a forceful push for Sullivan as the campaign entered its final four weeks.