By SUZANNE DOWNING
Oct. 24, 2026 – Mary Peltola once enjoyed “it girl” status at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention. But on Friday, rows of empty chairs showed a markedly different reception to the former congresswoman, now running against US Sen. Dan Sullivan.
She had an opportunity to address convention attendees during AFN’s candidate forum in Anchorage, where the audience was exceptionally thin, and gave a subdued response to her appearance.
Independent US House candidate Bill Hill also drew a sparse audience and light applause during his time on stage.
The contrast with Thursday was striking. Sullivan and Congressman Nick Begich delivered their official legislative reports to audiences numbering in the several hundreds, receiving enthusiastic, thundering applause.
Friday’s photograph above, taken during Peltola’s appearance, shows large stretches of unoccupied seating, with attendees scattered through the cavernous convention hall, some talking on their phones, not paying much attention to Peltola.
This is hardly the image of a political homecoming filled with excitement 11 days before an election.
For a candidate whose Alaska Native identity and rural connections have been central to her political strategy, those empty chairs were a brutal statement. Decoy Dan Sullivan also did not join the stage, nor did Gerald Heikes. Both are running to peel off votes from Sullivan and help Peltola win, so it’s no surprise they didn’t crowd her time at AFN, which has endorsed her in the past, but is not endorsing her this year.
Sullivan had publicly confirmed beforehand that he would deliver his legislative update but would not participate in the Friday forum with Peltola.
Peltola had the opportunity to make her case without the incumbent senator sharing the stage. Hill likewise had an opportunity to speak without Begich beside him. Neither appearance generated anything resembling Thursday’s turnout or enthusiasm.
Perhaps the tide is going out on Mary Peltola.
AFN’s annual convention continues Saturday, Oct. 24, for its final day at Anchorage’s Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center.
One thought on “Is the tide going out on Mary Peltola? Nearly empty AFN audience for her offers a striking contrast”
Alaska’s Native people know her. She’s not delivered for them. And those staffers she humiliated–they were Alaska Natives with families and local influence.