Mary Peltola’s Kamala Harris Denial Blows Up As Report Says Her Campaign Requested the Email

Mary Peltola built her Alaska Senate campaign around one simple message: She's not one of those Democrats. Her own campaign may have just blown that up.

Kamala Harris' Fight for the People PAC sent a fundraising email Wednesday asking supporters to split a donation between Peltola's campaign and Harris' political operation. The message called Alaska a "must-win" Senate seat for Democrats and said a Peltola win would give them "a great chance to take back the Senate and put a real check on Trump's presidency."

"So if there's anyone who can flip Alaska and secure the Senate majority for Democrats - it's Mary. But she cannot do it alone," Harris wrote. Harris did not formally endorse Peltola.

Peltola's campaign quickly distanced itself from Harris, telling reporters that she was not seeking endorsements from anyone outside Alaska. The campaign also said it had not approved Harris' fundraising email and had no knowledge of it before it was sent.

"Mary isn't seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48 - her focus is and always will be Alaska," a campaign spokeswoman said.

Republicans immediately used the email to tie Peltola to Harris, who lost Alaska by double digits in 2024. Peltola herself declined to endorse Harris during that presidential race.

"Kamala Harris supported the Biden administration's disastrous anti-Alaska agenda," Sullivan spokesman Nate Adams said.

Journalist Yashar Ali reported Sunday that a source "directly familiar with the request" told him Peltola's campaign had asked Harris' political operation to send a fundraising email. According to Ali, the request was made in late July.

Ali said he reached out to a Peltola campaign spokesman for comment and had not heard back at the time of his post.

NEW

An update on the reporting on Kamala Harris’ fundraising email for Alaska Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola:

After former Vice President Kamala Harris’ PAC sent out a joint fundraising email that benefited her PAC and former Congresswoman Mary Peltola’s Senate… pic.twitter.com/3Vfb0tf5Np
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) August 15, 2026

To be clear, Ali did not report that Peltola's campaign approved the exact language Harris' PAC sent Wednesday. He reported that the campaign requested a fundraising email in late July.

The former Alaska congresswoman is trying to unseat Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) in a state Donald Trump carried easily in 2024. Alaska's nonpartisan primary is Tuesday, with the top four candidates advancing to November's ranked-choice general election. Peltola's slogan is "fish, family and freedom," and her campaign has emphasized Alaska unions, Alaska volunteers and Alaska issues while keeping prominent national Democrats at arm's length.

Harris also asked supporters for $10 and called the response before the primary "critical."

It has been a rough week for Democratic fundraising emails. My colleague Teri Christoph wrote Wednesday about Minnesota Senate nominee Peggy Flanagan's DNC appeal, which torched Elizabeth Warren's Native American claims without apparently realizing it. Peltola's problem is less funny and more serious.

If Ali's reporting holds up, Peltola's campaign has a straightforward question to answer: Why tell reporters it knew nothing about Harris' fundraising appeal if it had asked Harris' political operation to send one?

Alaskans vote Tuesday. The final weekend before the primary is a bad time to be sorting out exactly how much Kamala Harris help your campaign asked for.

Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.

Help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.