Alaska is an unusual state with unusual politics. It is both tiny and enormous, with fewer than 740,000 people living in a territory more than twice the size of Texas. It is staunchly(坚定地) Republican yet politically open. The last Democratic presidential candidate to win Alaskans’ vote was Lyndon Johnson(林登·约翰逊，美国第36任总统), in 1964, but the state prizes moderation(温和，中庸). Now America’s 49th state is one of a handful that will determine if Democrats win the Senate.
阿拉斯加是一个不同寻常的州，有着不同寻常的政治。它既小又大：不到74万人生活在面积超过得克萨斯州两倍的土地上。它坚定支持共和党，政治上却又开放包容。最后一位赢得阿拉斯加选民支持的民主党总统候选人是1964年的林登·约翰逊，但该州推崇温和。如今，这个美国第49个州是少数几个将决定民主党能否赢得参议院控制权的州之一。
The Senate campaign, between Dan Sullivan, a Republican incumbent(现任者), and Mary Peltola, a former Democratic congresswoman, is a toss-up(胜负难料), and may become more contentious(有争议的，激烈的) still. On September 23rd the New York Times published an investigation about Ms Peltola, alleging chaotic mismanagement and mistreatment of her staff. Her campaign denies any pattern of abuse. The allegations are particularly jarring(令人震惊的，刺耳的) for a candidate whose appeal to voters was built, in large part(在很大程度上), on her charisma and approachability(平易近人).
这场参议院选战在共和党现任参议员丹·沙利文和民主党前众议员玛丽·佩尔托拉之间展开，目前胜负难料，而且可能变得更加激烈。9月23日，《纽约时报》发表了一篇关于佩尔托拉的调查报道，指控她管理混乱、苛待员工。她的竞选团队否认存在任何虐待模式。这些指控对一位主要靠个人魅力和亲和力吸引选民的候选人来说，尤其令人震惊。
Democrats hope that Alaska’s unique political culture and the outsized(格外巨大的) impact of Donald Trump’s policies on the state will help to bolster(增强，支持) Ms Peltola’s chances. But much depends on Ms Peltola, too.
民主党人希望，阿拉斯加独特的政治文化以及唐纳德·特朗普的政策对该州格外巨大的影响，能有助于提升佩尔托拉的胜算。但很大程度上也取决于佩尔托拉本人。
