President Donald Trump traveled to Alaska on Tuesday to support Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan’s re-election bid, a rare campaign stop as the Republican Party seeks to retain control of Congress. Just hours before arriving in Anchorage, Trump endorsed Bernadette Wilson in the state’s crowded gubernatorial race.
“It’s time for all Republicans to unite behind Bernadette,” Trump said at the rally.
Trump called Wilson an “excellent choice” to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy. Wilson emerged as the top Republican candidate in Alaska’s August primary, but three Republicans are still running for governor, potentially splitting the party’s support in the general election. Her opponents are fellow Republicans Traeger Taylor and Dave Bronson, and Democrat Jonathan Cleese-Tomkins.
Trump acknowledged the challenges posed by the fragmentation of the Republican base.
“It’s tough. Think about it: three Republicans against one Democrat. That’s crazy,” he said, adding that the other two Republicans should drop out after Wilson’s primary.
Wilson thanked Trump in a post on X, saying she was “extremely honored” to have his support and looked forward to working with his administration.
Trump also attacked Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, calling it a “bogus rigged deal.”
“So, Bernadette, good luck to you. It’s not going to be easy,” he said. “But I will always be with you.”
Alaska voters will decide in November whether to abolish the state’s open primary and ranked-choice general election systems. In 2024, a similar repeal measure narrowly failed.
Trump backs ‘real’ Dan Sullivan
Trump’s trip is aimed at helping Sullivan win a third Senate term as Republicans face an uphill battle to maintain their majority in November. Sullivan’s opponent is Democrat and former Congresswoman Mary Peltola.
Alaska has long leaned Republican in statewide elections. Democrats haven’t won a Senate race in the state since 2008 and haven’t won the governorship since 1998.
But rising gas prices and persistent inflation could create opportunities for Democrats in November. Pertola emphasized the cost of living during her campaign, including posting about gas prices while traveling around the state.
Trump has repeatedly emphasized that Sullivan is “the real Dan Sullivan,” distinguishing the current president from another candidate with the same name on the ballot.
Retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan is also running for a Senate seat. Trump claimed that Democrats nominated him to confuse voters.
Before Trump took office, current President Sullivan criticized Pertola’s energy policies.
“Democrats like Mary Pertola would rather import oil and gas from Mexico than drill for it in Alaska,” Sullivan wrote on X. “What do we do? Keep the Senate and build the production lines.”
newsweek Pertola’s campaign was contacted via email Tuesday night for comment.
Crowded rally in Wasilla
Video showed the arena packed with people, and Sullivan said about 10,000 people were watching on a big screen outside. It was unclear how many attendees were inside the venue. Video taken before the event showed large crowds gathering outside the center in freezing weather.
Trump acknowledged the long trip to Alaska and told the crowd there was no way he could cancel the visit. He called Alaska a “special place,” noting that his family has ties to the state through his grandfather.
“Do you think I’m going to cancel? I’m not going to cancel the Alaska flight,” Trump said.
Before Trump spoke, Dunleavy called him “probably the best friend… in the history of this state.”
Trump pardons two Alaska business owners
In a nearly 90-minute speech, Trump signed unconditional pardons for Alaska business owners Zachary Czubak and Patrick Fleming. White House aide Natalie Harp brought the documents to the stage.
The men, who co-own Anchorage auto repair shop Arm Rippin Toys, pleaded guilty in 2022 to violating the Clean Air Act involving tampering with equipment used to monitor emissions from diesel vehicles.
Trump criticized their prosecution, telling the crowd: “They want to put them in jail for 10 years because they fixed an engine.”
Zubac thanked Trump, while Fleming used his remarks to urge voters to re-elect Sullivan and Rep. Nick Begich.
Trump pushed for the proposed Alaska LNG project, which would transport natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope through a roughly 800-mile pipeline. The project completed the federal permitting process in December 2025, but construction has not yet begun.
Trump said Taiwan has agreed to purchase 30% of the project’s natural gas production over 20 years and invest more than $4 billion in the project. Taiwanese officials did not immediately confirm the latest news.
He also highlighted a proposed $162 million investment in high-speed Internet access in Alaska. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the agency will vote on the proposal later in October.
Carr said the agency is committed to “connecting everyone in Alaska to high-speed internet.”
Protesters were escorted out during the speech
One protester disrupted Trump’s speech and was escorted out to boos from some in the crowd.
Trump later mocked the protester, saying: “Now he’s not happy to go home to his parents, who by the way voted for me.”
The Alaska general election will be held on November 3, with early voting beginning on October 19. Voters will decide gubernatorial and congressional races as Republicans seek to retain control of Congress.
newsweek’s Reporters and editors used our artificial intelligence assistant Martyn to produce this story. Learn more about Martin here. Please contact Newsweek editors about this story: Commander Anna and Edward T. Cummins