Alaska's midterm elections—suddenly full of suspense?

In 2008, under the momentum of Obama’s 'blue wave,' Democrat Mark Begich was elected U.S. Senator from Alaska. In 2014, Republican Dan Sullivan defeated Mark Begich to win the Senate seat and was successfully re-elected in 2020. In 2022, Mary Peltola won a special election to become Alaska’s first Democratic U.S. Representative—and the first Yup’ik Native American member of Congress. However, in the 2024 election, she ultimately lost to Nick Begich, a Republican candidate and nephew of Mark Begich. After her 2024 defeat, Peltola joined the private sector. In March 2025, she and her chief of staff, Anton McParland, joined the law firm Holland & Hart as 'Senior Director of Alaska Affairs.' II. Political Spectrum Energy development is a pivotal issue in Alaska politics. Republican Senator Sullivan, unsurprisingly, strongly supports oil, gas, and mineral extraction. He personally holds stock in major fossil-fuel companies—including Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies. Peltola supports responsible development of Alaska’s energy resources. In 2023, when the Biden administration approved the Willow oil field project on the North Slope—despite pressure from environmentalists within its own party—Peltola joined Alaska’s other Republican lawmakers in welcoming the decision, citing job creation and revenue for the state. However, on the more contentious issue of oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), Peltola has taken a cautious stance. Early in 2024, House Republicans introduced the 'Alaska Production Rights Act' (H.R.6285), aiming to reinstate ANWR drilling rights granted during Trump’s first term and rescind Biden-era restrictions. Initially, Peltola co-sponsored the bill to signal support for Alaska’s oil industry. But shortly before the House vote, she discovered the bill would also eliminate a protected fishing zone in the Bering Sea—established specifically for Indigenous communities—and thereby threaten Alaska Native fisheries. After careful consideration, Peltola withdrew her support. Sullivan also backs Trump’s tax-cut policies. His grandfather founded RPM International, a publicly traded U.S. company. When Trump’s 2017 tax reform reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, Sullivan voted in favor—and his father and brother, who run RPM, benefited substantially. Peltola places particular emphasis on fisheries conservation. She introduced two bills focused on one core objective: stopping the incidental, large-scale killing of salmon. The first seeks stricter regulation of trawl fishing—specifically clarifying which marine areas permit bottom-contact nets, closing loopholes that allow vessels to claim they’re conducting midwater trawling while repeatedly dragging nets along the seafloor. The second bill is more direct: significantly increasing annual federal funding for research and equipment upgrades designed to help fishing vessels reduce bycatch.

U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has arrived in Beijing—what issues might this visit address?

It’s utterly meaningless. Sullivan’s trip is likely motivated primarily by personal business interests—perhaps laying groundwork for post-retirement ventures. Most distasteful of all is his entourage: a group of ABCs (American-born Chinese) and 'second-generation dogs' (a derogatory slang term).

RPM International CEO Frank C. Sullivan Plans to Retire

18 hours ago

RPM International CEO Frank C. Sullivan plans to retire within 12 to 18 months, remaining as Board Chair during succession after over 40 years of service.

TradingView

RPM International CEO Frank Sullivan Announces Retirement

Crain's Cleveland Business

2026-06-03

RPM International CEO Reports Tax Share Withholding and Large SAR Holdings

2026-07-17

RPM International CEO Receives Stock and 129,500 SAR Grant

2026-07-20

RPM International Promotes Dennsteadt to President and COO, Shifting Investment Outlook

2026-07-20

RPM International Names Company Veteran to Newly Created President, COO Role