Alaska Senate race sees spoiler candidate claims; Hegseth fires Army general

In the final stretch before Tuesday’s election, Alaska’s Senate race has been shaken by accusations that a third‑party candidate is acting as a spoiler, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dismissed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, the Pentagon’s senior planner for strategy and policy. Both moves come as the nation’s political and security calendars converge on a tense weekend.

The Alaska contest pits Republican incumbent Lisa Murkowski against Democrat Patricia Torres Ray and an independent who has drawn criticism for siphoning votes from Murkowski’s base. Campaign aides say the independent, a former state legislator, entered the race only weeks ago, prompting Murkowski’s team to label him a “spoiler” intent on handing the seat to the Democrat. At the same time, Hegseth’s decision to remove Sylvia follows a series of high‑profile disagreements over how the Pentagon should coordinate with allies amid rising threats from Iran. Sylvia, who also served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was not directly involved in day‑to‑day operations against Iran, but his strategic role made him a visible figure in the broader debate over U.S. posture in the Middle East.

Republican leaders in Alaska have vowed to challenge the independent’s ballot access, arguing that the candidate’s late entry undermines voter choice. Murkowski’s campaign has warned that a split vote could flip the seat to the Democrats, altering the Senate’s narrow margin. Defense officials, meanwhile, defended Hegseth’s action as a routine personnel change, emphasizing that the removal will not disrupt ongoing planning for potential Iranian escalation. Military insiders said the move signals a shift toward more aggressive contingency planning, but they declined to comment on Sylvia’s future.

Both stories underscore how quickly political and security calculations can change in a single weekend. Alaska’s voters will decide whether the spoiler claim has merit, while the Pentagon will adjust its planning staff as the United States braces for possible conflict in the region. The outcomes will shape congressional dynamics and defense strategy in the weeks ahead.