Donald Trump’s troubles in Alaska are mounting, and Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola says the economic reality facing residents is far worse than the picture Trump painted during his recent visit to the state.
In a new interview with MeidasTouch co-founder Ben Meiselas, Peltola described a state struggling with soaring grocery prices, punishing fuel costs, and growing concerns that families in remote communities may not be able to afford basic necessities this winter.
The interview, available to watch above and also on the MeidasTouch Podcast, comes as Peltola challenges Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in one of the country’s closely watched Senate contests.
By the way, make sure to check now to make sure you are still subscribed to the MeidasTouch Podcast!
Recent polling shows Trump deeply underwater in Alaska, including an Alaska Survey Research poll putting his approval at just 35%, with 57% disapproving. Polls have also shown Peltola running ahead of Sullivan, although the contest remains close.
Trump recently traveled to Alaska to promote his administration’s economic record and boost Sullivan’s campaign. Peltola, however, offered a strikingly different account of what residents are experiencing.
“We’re worried actually about Alaskans starving this winter or freezing to death,” Peltola told Meiselas.
She explained that diesel is especially critical in Alaska, where remote communities rely on it for heating, electricity, and transportation. According to Peltola, Alaskans consume approximately four times more diesel per capita than residents of other states.
Even before the latest increases, she said, families were making daily decisions about whether to heat their homes or buy groceries.
The economic pressures have become a central issue in the Senate race.
Peltola criticized Sullivan’s support for Trump’s tariffs, recounting a conversation with an Alaska air taxi operator who ordered $10,000 worth of parts from Canada, only to discover that tariffs would more than double the cost. The business owner canceled the order.
She also attacked Sullivan’s repeated votes against measures intended to halt the Iran war, which has contributed to higher energy costs.
Meiselas pressed Peltola about Trump’s latest economic promises for Alaska, including a purported multibillion-dollar investment from South Korea connected to the state’s proposed natural gas pipeline.
While Trump presented the announcement as a major breakthrough, questions remain about how far those negotiations have actually progressed.
Peltola said Alaskans desperately want the pipeline project to succeed, but warned against raising expectations before financing and investment commitments are secured.
“We are on the verge of a really pretty desperate winter,” she said.
The conversation also explored Sullivan’s financial interests, with Peltola raising questions about his investments and arguing that the senator’s personal wealth has grown while many Alaskans struggle with rising expenses.
Beyond the economy, Peltola discussed declining salmon populations, industrial fishing practices, and the importance of protecting Alaska’s subsistence hunting and fishing traditions.
She also criticized the flood of negative advertising in the Senate race, saying outside political spending has intensified as her campaign has gained momentum.
Peltola said her campaign has attracted approximately 15,000 volunteers, compared with roughly 1,000 during the 2024 election cycle, and described growing enthusiasm during her visits to communities across the state.
For Peltola, the contrast between Trump’s upbeat economic messaging and the financial pressures facing Alaskans has become a defining issue in the race.
Watch Ben Meiselas’ full interview with Mary Peltola above. You can also listen to the conversation on the MeidasTouch Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
