Many observers believe that Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola should have little reason to run for Senate because, they think, she would have a stronger shot at winning the governor’s race, which would keep her closer to home and give her more room to govern than she would have in a divided Senate.
Even so, Peltola is actively weighing a campaign against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, according to Democratic sources, and some believe she is leaning toward running, NOTUS reported.
If she enters the race, she would join a growing list of Democrats making the unexpected choice to pursue Senate seats in 2026.
At a time when many politicians are avoiding Washington, Senate Democrats have convinced Roy Cooper in North Carolina, Sherrod Brown in Ohio and Janet Mills in Maine to run, despite none of them being considered likely candidates earlier this year.
Democratic strategists said each was motivated by concern over the direction of the country under President Donald Trump and a belief that they could help change it.
“I don’t think it matters what age, what background, what office you’ve had before,” said Stephanie Schriock, former head of Emily’s List. “These are folks who know there is just a gigantic challenge in front of us, and now they want to be the ones who roll up their sleeves.”
Their states are among Democrats’ top targets for 2026, making their decisions central to the party’s long shot attempt to flip the Senate.
Their decisions also come as the party faces a turbulent recruitment year, marked by candidates criticizing Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and campaigning on promises of a different approach to politics.
In Maine, frustration with party leaders helped persuade oyster farmer Graham Platner to run for Senate, drawing national attention and complicating Mills’ path to the nomination.
Some polls show Platner leading the incumbent governor in the primary, and he has refused to exit the race despite criticism over his personal history.
Many Democrats were surprised Mills chose to run at all, given her age and early reluctance to continue a political career that stretches back to the 1980s.
Cooper has held statewide office for much of the past two decades and passed on multiple Senate recruitment efforts before now.
He will attempt to become the first Democrat in 18 years to win a Senate seat in North Carolina.
Brown may be the most unexpected of the trio.
He lost a tough reelection race last year after 18 years in the Senate and was urged by some Democrats to run for governor instead.
If he wins, he will have to defend the seat again in 2028, the third consecutive cycle he would face a campaign.
“A lot of people would have said, ‘I have other things to do or I could get a TV gig,’” said David Pepper, former chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. “But he’s signing up for at least one, and probably two, truly big time, all in campaigns.”
Democrats close to the candidates said their decisions reflect several factors, including signs of improving electoral prospects next year.
But all three have said Trump’s return to the White House played a central role in choosing to run, with many Democrats calling his presidency a serious threat to democracy.
Cooper said in his announcement video that he had not planned to return to Washington but felt compelled because “these are not ordinary times.”
Brown echoed that sentiment in his own rollout, saying he had not intended to run again but wanted to end the “craziness” in Washington.
Mills was even more direct.
“Honestly, if this president and this Congress were doing things that were even remotely acceptable, I wouldn’t be running for the U.S. Senate,” she said.
