Overview:
A MS NOW report has drawn scrutiny to Sen. Dan Sullivan's appearance beside a Confederate battle flag during a July Fourth church event as he campaigns for reelection against Democrat Mary Peltola (Yup'ik) in one of the nation's most competitive U.S. Senate races.
Native Vote 2026
U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) is facing renewed scrutiny after appearing on stage just feet away from a Confederate battle flag while reciting the Declaration of Independence during a July Fourth weekend event at an Anchorage church, according to a report published by MS NOW.
The event, “America Comes Alive,” was held July 5 at Mountain City Church in Anchorage. According to MS NOW, Sullivan’s Senate campaign shared photos from the event on social media but did not include images showing the Confederate flag, which appeared on stage during his remarks.
A video obtained by MS NOW shows Sullivan speaking about the Declaration of Independence and emphasizing its principles that “all men are created equal” and are endowed with the rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Throughout the speech, the Confederate battle flag—widely recognized as a symbol associated with the Confederacy, slavery, racism, and white supremacy—was visible only a short distance from where the senator stood.
“I’ve reflected a lot on the meaning of the Declaration of Independence,” Sullivan said during the event, according to the video cited by MS NOW. “We must always remain vigilant about safeguarding the rights and liberties so many Americans have fought and died for over the past 250 years.”
The report notes that Alaska was not part of the United States during the Civil War and did not become a state until 1959, nearly a century after the Confederacy was defeated.
Before reading from the Declaration of Independence, Sullivan thanked Mountain City Church Senior Pastor Ron Hoffman.
Hoffman has drawn public attention in recent years for his positions on LGBTQ+ issues. According to MS NOW, he has publicly opposed Anchorage’s ordinance banning conversion therapy for minors and criticized a U.S. Supreme Court decision protecting LGBTQ+ employees from workplace discrimination. Earlier this year, Hoffman also appeared in a campaign advertisement supporting Sullivan, praising the senator’s work on behalf of Alaska’s fisheries.
The controversy comes as Sullivan seeks reelection in one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races. His Democratic challenger is former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, who is Yup’ik and previously represented Alaska’s at-large congressional district. Peltola has campaigned on issues including protecting subsistence resources, strengthening Tribal sovereignty, and expanding economic opportunities in rural Alaska.
Control of the U.S. Senate could hinge on several competitive races in 2026, including Alaska. As MS NOW reported, the race is currently rated “Lean Republican,” though recent national election analysts have moved the contest closer to a toss-up as Democrats look for pickup opportunities.
The appearance alongside the Confederate flag has drawn additional attention because of the symbol’s long association with the defense of slavery and its continued use by white supremacist groups. For many Native Americans and other communities of color, the flag represents a legacy of racial oppression that stands in sharp contrast to the nation’s stated ideals of equality and liberty.
