U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan gave his annual address to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, giving a full-throated defense of President Donald Trump’s first two months back in office. He heaped praise on the president’s pro-development promises and slammed Democratic presidents going back to the late President Jimmy Carter for having a worse record on just about everything, including Russia.
The few moments of discomfort he might have had came during the question-and-answer session with legislators, where Democratic legislators asked many of the questions you might hear at the several empty-chair town halls held across the state this week that Sullivan has refused to attend.
Would he commit to protecting Medicaid? No, more Alaskans should be on private insurance anyway. Would he stand up to Trump’s softball approach to Russia? Well, Obama’s record on Russia was worse. What about all those indiscriminate firings of federal workers by DOGE goons thousands of miles away with no knowledge of how Alaska works? Fill out the form, and he might help if you can tie it into resource development.
“In your handouts, there is a form. Take a look at it. If there are decisions on federal spending, or GSA leases, or federal employees, and you can make the argument to us, we’ll work with you, that that’s going to undermine our economy or safety, we will work it,” he said. “Like I said, we’ve had some success on turning these things around when we think it negatively impacts those issues in our state.”
In the big picture, Sullivan did what he’s done for much of his career: Dodging the tough questions while turning any and all criticisms against Republicans into an opportunity to attack Democrats.
But for Republicans in the House Minority, it was a ghastly scene.
Ghastly enough for them to pen a bizarre letter to Sullivan apologizing for the treatment he had to endure in his address to the Legislature filled with flowery language heaping praise on Sullivan.
“It is with sincere regret that we write to apologize for the discourteous treatment you endured from some of our colleagues during the question-and-answer session following your remarks,” the letter said. “The tone and manner of certain inquiries — preceded by what can only be described as unnecessary grilling and regrettable rhetoric — fell far short of the respect and decorum you deserve as a United States Senator who graciously accepted our invitation to speak. To say we were merely disappointed would understate the depth of our dismay. Alaska’s legislative body is better than this, and most of us recognize that such conduct does not reflect our values or the esteem in which we hold you.”
The letter, which is signed by all 19 Republican legislators in the minority, goes on to fret that the questions were so unthinkably aggressive that Sullivan might be afraid to return to the chamber (U.S. Rep. Don Young famously skipped ever giving legislative addresses).
“Please accept our sincere apologies for this lapse. Know that we have the utmost respect for your leadership, your service, your Alaska centric focus, and the dignity you bring to your office. While we would fully understand if this experience left you hesitant to return, we earnestly hope it will not deter you from gracing us with your presence and wisdom in the future. We look forward to welcoming you back with the courtesy and appreciation you so richly merit.”
In short, they want to make the Legislature a safe space for Sullivan again.
Following the letter, Sullivan commented on Fairbanks radio that he thought the questions raised by Democrats challenging him to stand up for the state and Alaska Constitution were rude and probably set up by far-left groups.
The letter
Matt Acuña Buxton is a long-time political reporter who has written for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner and The Midnight Sun political blog. He also authors the daily politics newsletter, The Alaska Memo, and can frequently be found live-tweeting public meetings on Bluesky.
