Peltola Beats Palin Wins Alaska House Special Election

Democrat Mary Peltola won a special election for Alaska’s only U.S. House seat on Wednesday, besting a field that included Republican Sarah Palin, who was seeking a political comeback in the state where she once served as governor. Peltola, who is Yup’ik and turned 49 on Wednesday, will become the first Alaska Native to serve in the House and the first woman to hold the seat. He will serve out the remaining months of the late Republican U.S. Rep. Don Young’s term. Young held the seat for 49 years before his death in March. “I don’t think there will be another birthday like today,” Peltola said. “I am truly so grateful to Alaskans and to all Alaskans that they believed in me to serve out the remainder of Congressman Young’s term,” she said in an interview. “My desire is to carry on Congressman Young’s legacy of representing all Alaskans, and I just can’t wait to get to work.” Peltola’s victory, in Alaska’s first statewide ranked-choice vote, is a boon for Democrats, particularly with better-than-expected performances in special elections across the country this year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade . She will be the first Democrat to hold the seat since the late U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, who was seeking re-election in 1972 when his plane disappeared. Begich was later pronounced dead and Young in 1973 was elected to the seat. Peltola ran as a coalition builder while her two Republican rivals — Palin’s grandson and Begich, also known as Nick Begich — occasionally went after each other. Palin also spoke out against the ranked-choice voting system, which was enacted by Alaska voters. All three – Peltola, Palin and Begic – are running in November’s general election, seeking a two-year term that begins in January. The results came 15 days after the Aug. 16 election, the deadline for state election officials to receive absentee ballots mailed outside the U.S. The ranked choice panels took place on Wednesday after no candidate won more than 50% of the first-choice vote. with state election officials live streaming the event. Peltola led the rankings, followed by Palin and then Begić. State election officials plan to certify the election by Friday. Leaders of the Alaska Democratic Party cheered Peltola’s victory. “Alaskans have made it clear that they want a reasonable, stable, honest and loving voice speaking for them in Washington, not opportunists and extremists associated with the Alaska Republican Party,” said the state’s Democratic Party chairman. Michael Wenstrup. Wednesday’s results were a disappointment for Palin, who was trying to make a political comeback 14 years after she burst onto the national scene when John McCain chose her as his running mate in the 2008 presidential election. , had widespread name recognition and won the endorsement of former US President Donald Trump. After Peltola’s victory was announced, Palin called the ranked-choice voting system “crazy, confusing, confusing.” “While we are disappointed with this outcome, the people of Alaska know that I am the last person who will ever back down,” Palin said in a statement. Begić in a statement congratulated Peltola looking forward to the November elections. During the campaign, critics questioned Palin’s commitment to Alaska, citing her decision to resign as governor in July 2009, part way through her term. Palin became a conservative television commentator and appeared on reality television shows, among other pursuits. Palin insisted her commitment to Alaska never wavered and said ahead of the special election that she was “signed up for the long haul.” Peltola, a former state lawmaker who recently worked for a commission whose goal is to rebuild salmon resources in the Kuskokwim River, described herself as a “regular” Alaskan. “I’m not a millionaire. I’m not an international celebrity,” he said. Peltola has expressed hope that the new system would allow more moderate candidates to be elected. During the campaign, she emphasized her support for abortion rights and said she wanted to highlight the issues of ocean productivity and food security. Peltola said she received a boost after June’s special primary, when she won endorsements from Democrats and independents entering the race. She said she believes her positive messages also resonated with voters. “It was very appealing to a lot of people to have a message of cooperation and positivity and support and unity and as Americans none of us are enemies of the other,” he said. “This is just a message that people really need to hear right now.” Alaska voters in 2020 approved an election process that replaced party primaries with open primaries. Under the new system, ranked-choice voting is used in general elections. In 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 reaches this threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Voters who chose this candidate as their top choice have their votes count toward their next choice. Rounds continue until there are two candidates left and whoever gets the most votes wins. In Alaska, voters last supported a Democratic president in 1964. The number of registered unaffiliated voters is greater than the number of registered Republicans or Democrats combined, according to statistics from the Division of Elections. The last Democratic member of Alaska’s congressional delegation was Mark Begich, uncle of Nick Begich, who served one term in the U.S. Senate and lost his bid for re-election in 2014. Alaska’s U.S. senators, Republicans Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, congratulated Peltola. Murkowski said Peltola “has a long history of public service in our great state.” Murkowski and Peltola were in the state legislature together.

title: “Peltola Beats Palin Wins Alaska House Special Election Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-21” author: “Barbara Barbera”

Democrat Mary Peltola won a special election for Alaska’s only U.S. House seat on Wednesday, besting a field that included Republican Sarah Palin, who was seeking a political comeback in the state where she once served as governor. Peltola, who is Yup’ik and turned 49 on Wednesday, will become the first Alaska Native to serve in the House and the first woman to hold the seat. He will serve out the remaining months of the late Republican U.S. Rep. Don Young’s term. Young held the seat for 49 years before his death in March. “I don’t think there will be another birthday like today,” Peltola said. “I am truly so grateful to Alaskans and to all Alaskans that they believed in me to serve out the remainder of Congressman Young’s term,” she said in an interview. “My desire is to carry on Congressman Young’s legacy of representing all Alaskans, and I just can’t wait to get to work.” Peltola’s victory, in Alaska’s first statewide ranked-choice vote, is a boon for Democrats, particularly with better-than-expected performances in special elections across the country this year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade . She will be the first Democrat to hold the seat since the late U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, who was seeking re-election in 1972 when his plane disappeared. Begich was later pronounced dead and Young in 1973 was elected to the seat. Peltola ran as a coalition builder while her two Republican rivals — Palin’s grandson and Begich, also known as Nick Begich — occasionally went after each other. Palin also spoke out against the ranked-choice voting system, which was enacted by Alaska voters. All three – Peltola, Palin and Begic – are running in November’s general election, seeking a two-year term that begins in January. The results came 15 days after the Aug. 16 election, the deadline for state election officials to receive absentee ballots mailed outside the U.S. The ranked choice panels took place on Wednesday after no candidate won more than 50% of the first-choice vote. with state election officials live streaming the event. Peltola led the rankings, followed by Palin and then Begić. State election officials plan to certify the election by Friday. Leaders of the Alaska Democratic Party cheered Peltola’s victory. “Alaskans have made it clear that they want a reasonable, stable, honest and loving voice speaking for them in Washington, not opportunists and extremists associated with the Alaska Republican Party,” said the state’s Democratic Party chairman. Michael Wenstrup. Wednesday’s results were a disappointment for Palin, who was trying to make a political comeback 14 years after she burst onto the national scene when John McCain chose her as his running mate in the 2008 presidential election. , had widespread name recognition and won the endorsement of former US President Donald Trump. After Peltola’s victory was announced, Palin called the ranked-choice voting system “crazy, confusing, confusing.” “While we are disappointed with this outcome, the people of Alaska know that I am the last person who will ever back down,” Palin said in a statement. Begić in a statement congratulated Peltola looking forward to the November elections. During the campaign, critics questioned Palin’s commitment to Alaska, citing her decision to resign as governor in July 2009, part way through her term. Palin became a conservative television commentator and appeared on reality television shows, among other pursuits. Palin insisted her commitment to Alaska never wavered and said ahead of the special election that she was “signed up for the long haul.” Peltola, a former state lawmaker who recently worked for a commission whose goal is to rebuild salmon resources in the Kuskokwim River, described herself as a “regular” Alaskan. “I’m not a millionaire. I’m not an international celebrity,” he said. Peltola has expressed hope that the new system would allow more moderate candidates to be elected. During the campaign, she emphasized her support for abortion rights and said she wanted to highlight the issues of ocean productivity and food security. Peltola said she received a boost after June’s special primary, when she won endorsements from Democrats and independents entering the race. She said she believes her positive messages also resonated with voters. “It was very appealing to a lot of people to have a message of cooperation and positivity and support and unity and as Americans none of us are enemies of the other,” he said. “This is just a message that people really need to hear right now.” Alaska voters in 2020 approved an election process that replaced party primaries with open primaries. Under the new system, ranked-choice voting is used in general elections. In 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 reaches this threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Voters who chose this candidate as their top choice have their votes count toward their next choice. Rounds continue until there are two candidates left and whoever gets the most votes wins. In Alaska, voters last supported a Democratic president in 1964. The number of registered unaffiliated voters is greater than the number of registered Republicans or Democrats combined, according to statistics from the Division of Elections. The last Democratic member of Alaska’s congressional delegation was Mark Begich, uncle of Nick Begich, who served one term in the U.S. Senate and lost his bid for re-election in 2014. Alaska’s U.S. senators, Republicans Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, congratulated Peltola. Murkowski said Peltola “has a long history of public service in our great state.” Murkowski and Peltola were in the state legislature together.

title: “Peltola Beats Palin Wins Alaska House Special Election Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-16” author: “Ralph Groves”

Democrat Mary Peltola won a special election for Alaska’s only U.S. House seat on Wednesday, besting a field that included Republican Sarah Palin, who was seeking a political comeback in the state where she once served as governor. Peltola, who is Yup’ik and turned 49 on Wednesday, will become the first Alaska Native to serve in the House and the first woman to hold the seat. He will serve out the remaining months of the late Republican U.S. Rep. Don Young’s term. Young held the seat for 49 years before his death in March. “I don’t think there will be another birthday like today,” Peltola said. “I am truly so grateful to Alaskans and to all Alaskans that they believed in me to serve out the remainder of Congressman Young’s term,” she said in an interview. “My desire is to carry on Congressman Young’s legacy of representing all Alaskans, and I just can’t wait to get to work.” Peltola’s victory, in Alaska’s first statewide ranked-choice vote, is a boon for Democrats, particularly with better-than-expected performances in special elections across the country this year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade . She will be the first Democrat to hold the seat since the late U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, who was seeking re-election in 1972 when his plane disappeared. Begich was later pronounced dead and Young in 1973 was elected to the seat. Peltola ran as a coalition builder while her two Republican rivals — Palin’s grandson and Begich, also known as Nick Begich — occasionally went after each other. Palin also spoke out against the ranked-choice voting system, which was enacted by Alaska voters. All three – Peltola, Palin and Begic – are running in November’s general election, seeking a two-year term that begins in January. The results came 15 days after the Aug. 16 election, the deadline for state election officials to receive absentee ballots mailed outside the U.S. The ranked choice panels took place on Wednesday after no candidate won more than 50% of the first-choice vote. with state election officials live streaming the event. Peltola led the rankings, followed by Palin and then Begić. State election officials plan to certify the election by Friday. Leaders of the Alaska Democratic Party cheered Peltola’s victory. “Alaskans have made it clear that they want a reasonable, stable, honest and loving voice speaking for them in Washington, not opportunists and extremists associated with the Alaska Republican Party,” said the state’s Democratic Party chairman. Michael Wenstrup. Wednesday’s results were a disappointment for Palin, who was trying to make a political comeback 14 years after she burst onto the national scene when John McCain chose her as his running mate in the 2008 presidential election. , had widespread name recognition and won the endorsement of former US President Donald Trump. After Peltola’s victory was announced, Palin called the ranked-choice voting system “crazy, confusing, confusing.” “While we are disappointed with this outcome, the people of Alaska know that I am the last person who will ever back down,” Palin said in a statement. Begić in a statement congratulated Peltola looking forward to the November elections. During the campaign, critics questioned Palin’s commitment to Alaska, citing her decision to resign as governor in July 2009, part way through her term. Palin became a conservative television commentator and appeared on reality television shows, among other pursuits. Palin insisted her commitment to Alaska never wavered and said ahead of the special election that she was “signed up for the long haul.” Peltola, a former state lawmaker who recently worked for a commission whose goal is to rebuild salmon resources in the Kuskokwim River, described herself as a “regular” Alaskan. “I’m not a millionaire. I’m not an international celebrity,” he said. Peltola has expressed hope that the new system would allow more moderate candidates to be elected. During the campaign, she emphasized her support for abortion rights and said she wanted to highlight the issues of ocean productivity and food security. Peltola said she received a boost after June’s special primary, when she won endorsements from Democrats and independents entering the race. She said she believes her positive messages also resonated with voters. “It was very appealing to a lot of people to have a message of cooperation and positivity and support and unity and as Americans none of us are enemies of the other,” he said. “This is just a message that people really need to hear right now.” Alaska voters in 2020 approved an election process that replaced party primaries with open primaries. Under the new system, ranked-choice voting is used in general elections. In 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 reaches this threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Voters who chose this candidate as their top choice have their votes count toward their next choice. Rounds continue until there are two candidates left and whoever gets the most votes wins. In Alaska, voters last supported a Democratic president in 1964. The number of registered unaffiliated voters is greater than the number of registered Republicans or Democrats combined, according to statistics from the Division of Elections. The last Democratic member of Alaska’s congressional delegation was Mark Begich, uncle of Nick Begich, who served one term in the U.S. Senate and lost his bid for re-election in 2014. Alaska’s U.S. senators, Republicans Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, congratulated Peltola. Murkowski said Peltola “has a long history of public service in our great state.” Murkowski and Peltola were in the state legislature together.

title: “Peltola Beats Palin Wins Alaska House Special Election Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-06” author: “Leslie Jackson”

Democrat Mary Peltola won a special election for Alaska’s only U.S. House seat on Wednesday, besting a field that included Republican Sarah Palin, who was seeking a political comeback in the state where she once served as governor. Peltola, who is Yup’ik and turned 49 on Wednesday, will become the first Alaska Native to serve in the House and the first woman to hold the seat. He will serve out the remaining months of the late Republican U.S. Rep. Don Young’s term. Young held the seat for 49 years before his death in March. “I don’t think there will be another birthday like today,” Peltola said. “I am truly so grateful to Alaskans and to all Alaskans that they believed in me to serve out the remainder of Congressman Young’s term,” she said in an interview. “My desire is to carry on Congressman Young’s legacy of representing all Alaskans, and I just can’t wait to get to work.” Peltola’s victory, in Alaska’s first statewide ranked-choice vote, is a boon for Democrats, particularly with better-than-expected performances in special elections across the country this year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade . She will be the first Democrat to hold the seat since the late U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, who was seeking re-election in 1972 when his plane disappeared. Begich was later pronounced dead and Young in 1973 was elected to the seat. Peltola ran as a coalition builder while her two Republican rivals — Palin’s grandson and Begich, also known as Nick Begich — occasionally went after each other. Palin also spoke out against the ranked-choice voting system, which was enacted by Alaska voters. All three – Peltola, Palin and Begic – are running in November’s general election, seeking a two-year term that begins in January. The results came 15 days after the Aug. 16 election, the deadline for state election officials to receive absentee ballots mailed outside the U.S. The ranked choice panels took place on Wednesday after no candidate won more than 50% of the first-choice vote. with state election officials live streaming the event. Peltola led the rankings, followed by Palin and then Begić. State election officials plan to certify the election by Friday. Leaders of the Alaska Democratic Party cheered Peltola’s victory. “Alaskans have made it clear that they want a reasonable, stable, honest and loving voice speaking for them in Washington, not opportunists and extremists associated with the Alaska Republican Party,” said the state’s Democratic Party chairman. Michael Wenstrup. Wednesday’s results were a disappointment for Palin, who was trying to make a political comeback 14 years after she burst onto the national scene when John McCain chose her as his running mate in the 2008 presidential election. , had widespread name recognition and won the endorsement of former US President Donald Trump. After Peltola’s victory was announced, Palin called the ranked-choice voting system “crazy, confusing, confusing.” “While we are disappointed with this outcome, the people of Alaska know that I am the last person who will ever back down,” Palin said in a statement. Begić in a statement congratulated Peltola looking forward to the November elections. During the campaign, critics questioned Palin’s commitment to Alaska, citing her decision to resign as governor in July 2009, part way through her term. Palin became a conservative television commentator and appeared on reality television shows, among other pursuits. Palin insisted her commitment to Alaska never wavered and said ahead of the special election that she was “signed up for the long haul.” Peltola, a former state lawmaker who recently worked for a commission whose goal is to rebuild salmon resources in the Kuskokwim River, described herself as a “regular” Alaskan. “I’m not a millionaire. I’m not an international celebrity,” he said. Peltola has expressed hope that the new system would allow more moderate candidates to be elected. During the campaign, she emphasized her support for abortion rights and said she wanted to highlight the issues of ocean productivity and food security. Peltola said she received a boost after June’s special primary, when she won endorsements from Democrats and independents entering the race. She said she believes her positive messages also resonated with voters. “It was very appealing to a lot of people to have a message of cooperation and positivity and support and unity and as Americans none of us are enemies of the other,” he said. “This is just a message that people really need to hear right now.” Alaska voters in 2020 approved an election process that replaced party primaries with open primaries. Under the new system, ranked-choice voting is used in general elections. In 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 reaches this threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Voters who chose this candidate as their top choice have their votes count toward their next choice. Rounds continue until there are two candidates left and whoever gets the most votes wins. In Alaska, voters last supported a Democratic president in 1964. The number of registered unaffiliated voters is greater than the number of registered Republicans or Democrats combined, according to statistics from the Division of Elections. The last Democratic member of Alaska’s congressional delegation was Mark Begich, uncle of Nick Begich, who served one term in the U.S. Senate and lost his bid for re-election in 2014. Alaska’s U.S. senators, Republicans Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, congratulated Peltola. Murkowski said Peltola “has a long history of public service in our great state.” Murkowski and Peltola were in the state legislature together.