Mary Peltola, a Democratic former state lawmaker, won a special election to fill Alaska’s sole U.S. House of Representatives seat. She became the first Alaska Native to represent the state in Congress, the Alaska Division of Elections announced on Wednesday. The race was to fill a vacancy left after the former officeholder died. The seat is up for grabs again in November.
Mary was declared the winner by three percentage points in a state that ex-President Donald Trump took by 10 points in 2020
Mary defeated Republican former Governor Sarah Palin by 51.47% to 48.53%. Palin is widely known for her unsuccessful vice presidential run with John McCain in 2008. Ms. Peltola, 49, was declared the winner by three percentage points in a state that ex-President Donald Trump took by 10 points in 2020.
Mary is the first Alaska Native to represent a state where almost 20% of the population is Indigenous, the highest proportion in the United States. Moreover, the former state lawmaker advocated for abortion access, climate action, and the state’s salmon populations.
Peltola ran as “Alaska’s best shot at keeping an extremist from winning”
During her campaign, Mary ran as “Alaska’s best shot at keeping an extremist from winning,” according to her campaign website. She highlighted her status as “the only candidate in this race who isn’t a multi-millionaire.”
The election is the first run under the state’s new ranked-choice system, with voters listing candidates in order of preference on the ballot. Moreover, a candidate must clear 50% of the vote to be declared the winner.
While political analysts will search for clues in this particular election as to how both main parties may fare in the US midterm elections this November. It is not clear to what degree Ms. Palin’s big personality was a factor in the outcome.
While her brand of combative conservatism and anti-establishment appeal led many to consider her the political precursor to Mr. Trump. But some voters questioned her commitment to the state, citing her resignation as governor only partway through her term.