Alaska U.S Sen. Dan Sullivan took the stage in Cleveland on the second night of the Republican National Convention. While Sullivan never named the man the party had just nominated for President, Donald Trump, he did close with his campaign slogan.
Sullivan reminded the crowd that Republicans took back Senate leadership after the last General Election.
“In 2014, you made this happen! Republicans all across the country coming together who wanted new energy in the Senate — and who wanted to fire Harry Reid!” he shouted from the stage, with eight other freshman senators and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell standing in an array behind him.
Sullivan was the only member of Alaska’s congressional delegation to come to the convention. He has criticized some of Trump’s positions, but the senator met with Trump a
few weeks ago, on Capitol Hill. Sullivan spokesman Mike Anderson says the conversation helped secure his spot on the convention schedule.
One freshman senator missing from the line-up on stage: Republican Ben Sasse, of Nebraska. Sasse has openly campaigned against Trump.
Sullivan’s speech lasted two and a half minutes, more of an extended rallying cry. He ended with a crowd-pleasing line.
“We will make America great again!” he said, to big cheers.
Liz Ruskin is the Washington, D.C., correspondent at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at lruskin@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Liz here.
