President Donald Trump is making an unusual last-minute campaign trip to Alaska as Republicans scramble to defend a Senate seat in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the chamber in nearly two decades.
asserted
that → make → decades
Trump will travel to Wasilla, about 45 miles north of Anchorage, on Tuesday to rally support for Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, whose unexpectedly competitive reelection race against Democrat Mary Peltola has become a GOP concern ahead of the November 3 midterms.
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race → travel → midterms
The visit, just three weeks before Election Day, underscores the stakes for Republicans as they fight to maintain control of Congress amid voter frustration over soaring gasoline prices, persistent inflation and the war in Iran.
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they → underscore → Iran
No Democrat has won a Senate race there since 2008, and the state has voted for Republican presidential candidates in every election since 1968.
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state → win → 1968
But declining support for Trump has given Democrats an opening in a state known for its fiercely independent voters.
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support → decline → voters
Peltola, a former congresswoman, is running on an "Alaska First" platform centered on tackling the rising cost of living.
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Peltola → run → living
Alaska pollster Ivan Moore said Trump's declining popularity in the state reflects his falling national approval ratings, suggesting the race could hinge on voters who supported the president in 2024 but have since become disillusioned.
"The visit is certainly appropriate.
uncertain
visit → say → 2024
Whether the visit will be effective or not is another matter," Moore said.
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Moore → say → ?
Trump makes rare trip to defend Republican stronghold
Trump's journey to Alaska, which crosses four time zones, is an unusual commitment so close to a national election, particularly for a state with a population of just 740,000.
The president will also campaign in Arizona and Montana on Wednesday as part of a final push to protect Republican seats.
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president → make → seats
Trump praised Sullivan last week, calling him a "great senator" and claiming no president had done more for Alaska.
"You look at the things he's done.
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he → praise → things
He would call me all the time because I think — I definitely know — nobody has helped Alaska like Donald Trump," he said.
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he → call → Trump
Vice President JD Vance has also traveled to Fairbanks to support Sullivan, who is seeking a third Senate term.
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who → travel → term
The Trump administration has made expanding oil and gas drilling in Alaska a priority, while Sullivan recently joined the president at the White House for the announcement of a proposed $54 billion South Korean investment in an Alaskan natural gas project.
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Sullivan → make → project
South Korean officials have cautioned that the agreement and its valuation have not been finalized.
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agreement → caution → ?
Despite the administration's efforts to boost Alaska's energy industry, rising fuel costs and Trump's trade policies have created political challenges.
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costs → boost → challenges
The president's tariffs on Canadian goods have particularly significant implications for Alaska, which shares more than 1,500 miles of border with Canada and maintains close economic ties with its northern neighbor.
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which → have → neighbor
Canada has retaliated against US trade restrictions, raising concerns about higher prices for Alaskan consumers.
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Canada → retaliate → consumers
"We associate, I think, probably more closely with the Canadians — more than a lot of the Lower 48," Moore said.
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Moore → associate → 48
Alaska's unpredictable politics complicate GOP plans
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politics → complicate → plans
Alaska's distinctive election system has added another layer of uncertainty to the Senate contest.
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system → add → contest
Under the state's open primary and ranked-choice voting system, the four candidates receiving the most primary votes advance to the general election.
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candidates → rank → election
That has added another candidate, Dan Sullivan, to the ballot.
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That → add → ballot
Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher, has been accused by Trump and allies of the incumbent senator of running as a sham candidate.
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Sullivan → retire → candidate
He denies the allegation.
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He → deny → allegation
Trump has repeatedly criticized Alaska's voting system, which allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference.
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voters → criticize → preference
Last week, he expressed frustration over the crowded gubernatorial race, questioning why multiple Republicans were competing against a single Democrat.
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Republicans → express → Democrat
"How stupid are we to do this?" Trump wrote on social media.
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Trump → do → media
State Republican leaders have urged voters to rank only GOP candidates, despite opposing the voting system itself.
"We want to be clear: we do not support ranked choice voting.
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we → urge → voting
It is a confusing, burdensome and costly voting scheme," Republican leaders, including state party chair Carmela Warfield, said Saturday.
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leaders → include → Warfield
Trump has previously intervened in Alaska's Republican politics, campaigning against Sen. Lisa Murkowski in 2022 after she voted to convict him during his second impeachment trial over the January 6 Capitol attack.
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she → intervene → attack
His preferred challenger, Kelly Tshibaka, ultimately lost to Murkowski.
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challenger → prefer → Murkowski
Tuesday's rally will also see Trump campaign for Republican Rep. Nick Begich, who faces a competitive challenge from independent Bill Hill.
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who → see → Hill
Unlike some Republicans in closely contested races who have distanced themselves from Trump's policies on Iran and tariffs, Sullivan has remained a staunch supporter of the president.
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Sullivan → contest → president
That loyalty could prove consequential in a state where political independence has traditionally played an important role.
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independence → prove → role
During his recent visit to Fairbanks, Vance acknowledged Alaska's unpredictable political landscape.
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Vance → acknowledge → landscape
In very deep blue years, Alaska is still competitive," he said.
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he → say → years
"I think it's just a reality of the politics of the state."
asserted
it → think → state
The Aporia
