Alaska labor splits in the Senate race as AFL-CIO back Peltola and building trades back Sullivan

Alaska's biggest labor federation endorsed Mary Peltola for U.S. Senate this month — the unsurprising part, given the AFL-CIO's long habit of backing Democrats. The more telling part is who didn't follow: three building-trades unions have lined up behind Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan instead.

The Alaska District Council of Laborers, Teamsters Local 959 and Operating Engineers Local 302 — together well over 10,000 members — are backing the incumbent. Laborers business manager Joey Merrick pointed to Sullivan's record on prevailing wages and "quality jobs for Alaskans," the pitch that has long let Republicans compete for building-trades votes even as the broader labor movement tilts Democratic.

The AFL-CIO, the state's largest federation at more than 50,000 members, said its vice presidents voted June 18 to back Peltola for her focus on affordability, health care and child care. Its president is Joelle Hall.

The divide sets up a genuine contest for labor in a race both parties are watching, with the primary Aug. 18 and the general Nov. 3.