Sullivan, Murkowski back diplomatic and financial nominees amid ad war

Majority Forward, a Democratic-aligned outside group, began airing ads in Alaska attacking Sen. Dan Sullivan's foreign-policy record on June 16. One day later, Sullivan and Sen. Lisa Murkowski both voted to confirm a diplomatic nominee and advance a financial-post nomination.

Majority Forward is a 501(c)(4) organization that does not disclose its donors. Its Alaska ad claims Sullivan "gives a blank check for the war in Iran" and voted to raise health insurance costs. Alaska News could not independently verify which votes the ad references.

Sullivan and Murkowski voted Wednesday to confirm Michelle Steel as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea and to invoke cloture on George Holding's nomination to serve as United States Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The Steel confirmation (PN901-8) passed 55-39. The cloture vote on Holding (PN730-33) passed 54-41, advancing his nomination toward a final confirmation vote. The EBRD is an international financial institution in which the United States holds the largest single shareholder stake.

No response from Sullivan's campaign to the Majority Forward ads was available at publication.

AdImpact reported future ad reservations in the Alaska Senate race at $16.0 million for Republicans and $7.5 million for Democrats.

A June 4 to 7 Alaska Survey Research poll of 1,393 likely voters showed former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola leading Sullivan 49.4% to 44.2%, with Gerald Heikes at 3.7% and Dustin Darden at 2.7%. The poll carried an A/B rating from the firm.