Peltola Missed Nearly 1 in 5 Votes During Alaska Political Career, Records Show

Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola missed nearly one in five votes during her years in the Alaska House of Representatives and more than a third of Bethel City Council meetings, newly reviewed records show. The attendance gaps are drawing fresh scrutiny as Peltola advances to Alaska's four-candidate general election against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, a race that could help decide control of the U.S. Senate.

794 Missed Votes Across Five Legislative Terms

Peltola missed 794 of 4,265 state House votes, or 18.6%, during her five terms from 1999 to 2009, according to legislative records. Her worst stretch came in the 2003-2004 session, when she was absent for 334 of 1,019 roll calls.

Her local government record tells a similar story. Peltola missed 22 of 60 Bethel City Council meetings from 2011 to 2013, a 36.67% absence rate, including 11 of 32 meetings in 2012 and nine of 22 in 2013.

The pattern did not end at the state level. During her time in Congress from 2022 to 2024, Peltola missed 235 of 1,370 roll-call votes, or 17.2%, according to GovTrack data. Critics also note that none of the bills for which she served as primary sponsor became law during her congressional tenure.

Republicans Question Her Commitment

Republican National Committee spokesperson Nick Poche did not hold back, saying Alaskans deserve an all-the-time workhorse like Sullivan, not someone who knifes Alaskans in the back when she even bothers to show up.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has piled on as well, posting in January that Peltola could not get a single bill signed into law and now wants a promotion.

The attacks land at a delicate moment for the campaign. Peltola finished ahead of Sullivan in Tuesday's primary under Alaska's nonpartisan top-four system, with preliminary results showing her with a slim early lead. The general election now shapes up as one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country.

Campaign Points to Maternity Leave and Excused Absences

Peltola's campaign pushed back on the numbers, saying she took maternity leave after giving birth to three of her children while serving in the state House. The campaign argued that excluding excused absences, Peltola missed only about 6% of votes and kept advancing bipartisan measures throughout her tenure.

Three of Mary's children were born during her time in the state legislature and she took maternity leave, the campaign said. It added that she continued working hard for Alaskans, from passing bills to improve public safety in rural Alaska to increasing Alaska energy production.

The campaign also noted that Peltola spent summers at fish camp, a traditional Alaska lifestyle commitment, and said some city council absences occurred during fishing months or because of other council priorities.

The Sullivan camp and national Republicans counter that the excuse list does not explain a pattern spanning two decades and three levels of government, and they argue the contrast matters in a race where Sullivan has racked up signed legislation and a steady floor presence.

What to Watch in the Fall Campaign

With four months until the midterms, Alaska's ranked-choice general election is a genuine toss-up. Trump has endorsed Sullivan, and national Republicans are pouring resources into the state to protect the seat.

The attendance records give the GOP a fresh line of attack just as early ballots start taking shape, and the Peltola campaign will have to answer for the numbers on the trail all fall. For Alaskans weighing the two candidates, the question is whether a part-time record in Juneau and Bethel translates into a full-time senator in Washington.