U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola waves a sign during the morning rush hour in Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday Nov. 8, 2022. Peltola, who became the first Alaska Native elected to Congress when she won a special election earlier this year, faces Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich and Libertarian Chris Bye in the general election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola waves a sign during the morning rush hour in Anchorage, Alaska, on Tuesday Nov. 8, 2022. Peltola, who became the first Alaska Native elected to Congress when she won a special election earlier this year, faces Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich and Libertarian Chris Bye in the general election. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Peltola holds early lead in Alaska House race

Peltola embraced the legacy of her Republican predecessor, the late Rep. Don Young

By Becky Bohrer

Associated Press

JUNEAU — Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola led in early first-choice returns in Tuesday’s ranked choice election for Alaska’s only House seat, leading Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich.

Peltola embraced the legacy of her Republican predecessor, the late Rep. Don Young, as she sought a two-year term in a race that also included Libertarian Chris Bye.

Under ranked voting, ballots are counted in rounds. A candidate can win outright with more than 50% of the vote in the first round. If no one hits that threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Voters who chose that candidate as their top pick have their votes count for their next choice.

Rounds continue until two candidates remain, and whoever has the most votes wins. Tabulations rounds would take place Nov. 23.

Peltola won an August ranked vote special election against Palin and Begich to serve out Young’s term, which ends in January. Young, who had held the House seat for 49 years, died in March.

Peltola, in an ad, referred to the seat as “Don Young’s seat in Congress.” She also had said the race was about “carrying on” Young’s legacy, which she said was about putting Alaska first.

Palin, the 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee, was seeking a political comeback 13 years after she resigned as Alaska’s governor. She brought back her “drill, baby, drill” mantra and said she could use her prominent profile for the benefit of Alaska. Her bid was also endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

While she and Peltola are friendly — Peltola’s time as a state lawmaker overlapped with Palin’s as governor — Palin has railed against the state’s ranked choice voting system and said Alaskans “do not want the destructive democrat (sic) agenda to rule our land and our lives.”

Both she and Begich ahead of the general election had urged voters to “rank the red,” or the Republicans, though Palin told reporters in Anchorage Tuesday that she had to “swallow my pride” in doing so. She also said it went against what she “preached” previously, which was “rage against the machine.”

“We have to ask others to support the other Republicans, even though it kind of goes against any competitive bone anybody would have in their body,” she said. Palin said she ranked Begich second on her ballot.

Begich, who earlier in the campaign cast Palin as a quitter and someone chasing celebrity, said a Republican in the seat is better than a Democrat. But in a recent interview, he argued he was the Republican with the momentum, saying he had seen a growth in his support since his third place finish in the special election.

He tried to tie Peltola to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and President Joe Biden.

Begich in one ad refers to himself as an “inflation fighter.” He said one way he could do that is by fighting against excess government spending. He said he was interested, if elected, in focusing on economic issues and making the case for Alaska resource development.

Peltola, who is Yup’ik, became the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress and the first woman to hold Alaska’s seat. One of her campaign mantras has been “fish, family and freedom.” She expressed concerns with diminished salmon runs — salmon is a staple in Alaska — and food insecurity. She also emphasized her support of abortion rights.

One of her first acts in the House was to reintroduce a number of bills that Young had supported.

Peltola has family connections to Young, and she hired his former chief of staff to fill the same role in her House office. Young’s daughters both endorsed Peltola.

She described herself early Tuesday as optimistic and happy. Peltola said the best part of the campaign has been “the feedback, the positive energy.”

More in News

A Kenai Peninsula Food Bank truck in the Food Bank parking lot on Aug. 4, 2022 in Soldotna, Alaska (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Food bank seeks turkey donations as Thanksgiving nears

The local food bank is calling for donations of $25 to “Adopt-A-Turkey” for a local family in need

Seward City Hall is seen under cloudy skies in Seward, Alaska, on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seward budget hearing covers bed tax, wages, emergency medical services

The Seward City Council on Nov. 12 considered a series of legislative items connected to 2025 and 2026 budget

The results of ranked choice tabulation show Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, R-Nikiski, winning reelection in the race for Senate District D. (Screenshot/Gavel Alaska)
Bjorkman, Vance win reelection after tabulation of ranked choice ballots

An effort to repeal ranked choice voting and the open primary system was very narrowly defeated

Jacob Caldwell, chief executive officer of Kenai Aviation, stands at the Kenai Aviation desk at the Kenai Municipal Airport on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2022, in Kenai, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Aviation, Reeve Air submit proposals to bring air service back to Seward

Scheduled air service has been unavailable in Seward since 2002

Erosion damage to the southbound lane of Homer Spit Road is seen on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024, following a storm event on Saturday in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
City, DOT work to repair storm damage to Spit road

A second storm event on Saturday affected nearly a mile of the southbound lane

Kenaitze Indian Tribe Education Director Kyle McFall speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Charter school proposed by Kenaitze Indian Tribe given approval by school board

The application will next be forwarded to the State Department of Education and Early Department

Suzanne Phillips, who formerly was a teacher at Aurora Borealis Charter School, speaks during a special meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District’s Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Aurora Borealis charter renewal clears school board

The school is seeking routine renewal of its charter through the 2035-2036 school year

State House District 6 candidates Rep. Sarah Vance, Dawson Slaughter and Brent Johnson participate in a candidate forum hosted by the Peninsula Clarion and KBBI 890 AM at the Homer Public Library in Homer, Alaska, on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Saturday update: House District 6 race tightens slightly in new results

Neither incumbent Rep. Sarah Vance or challenger Brent Johnson have claimed 50% of votes in the race

A grader moves down 1st Avenue in Kenai, Alaska, during a snow storm on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Storm system to bring weekend snow to western Kenai Peninsula

Extended periods of light to moderate snow are expected Friday through Sunday morning

Most Read