Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) had an awkward moment at Saturday’s debate when he appeared to peek at Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s answer before delivering his own.
For one portion of the debate, the candidates were given paddles reading YES on one side and NO on the other for delivering quick answers.
“Do the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and NOAA Fisheries adequately consider impacts on subsistence users, salmon migration, habitat, and Indigenous ways of life?” a moderator asked.
Peltola, who has worked as a commercial fisherman, raised her paddle immediately: NO.
Sullivan, who fishes for sport, was shuffling through his notes as the question was asked and had to be prompted by the moderators to respond. He did, but not before taking a quick glance at Peltola’s paddle.
After that, he held up a NO of his own, leading to laughter from the audience and a smile from Sullivan himself.
Following the debate, Peltola ― who has previously held the state’s lone U.S. House seat ― did some light trolling on X:
The election will be a ranked-choice contest, which comes into play if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote.