Republican Nick Begich has won Alaska’s US House race, defeating Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola and claiming the seat that was once held by his grandfather.
Begich was one of Peltola’s defeated opponents during her special and regular election victories in 2022, following the death of Republican Representative Don Young. Young held the seat for 49 years.
Peltola, who is Yup’ik, was the first Alaska Native in Congress.
Republicans, seeking to retain control of the House, were eagerly trying to win back the seat.
Wednesday marked the deadline for election officials to receive ballots sent from overseas for the Nov. 5 election, and was also when ranked preference votes were tabulated. State officials were targeting November 30 to certify the general election.
Begich said in a statement on social media that Alaska has great potential, “but a lot of work remains for Alaskans to fully realize that potential. I am committed to fighting for our jobs and economy, protecting our unique way of life, and ensuring that our voices are heard loud and clear in Washington.
He also thanked Peltola “for his service to the state and nation in an exceptionally challenging role during an exceptionally challenging moment in our national history.”
Peltola said it has been “the honor of my life” to work for Alaskans as part of the state’s three-member congressional delegation.
“Nick, I’m supporting you,” she said. “Please don’t forget that while the people of DC keep telling you you’re one of three, you’re really just one of over 700,000 Alaskans who are ready to fight for our state, including me. Am.”
Begich comes from a line of Democratic politicians: his grandfather, the late Representative Nick Begich, held the House seat before Young.
One of his uncles, Mark, was a U.S. senator, and another, Tom, was a state senator. Begich has said he is a lifelong Republican.
Begich is gone all are led in the August primary, saying he would drop out of the race if he finished behind any other Republican. He said he saw it as a way to increase interest in the open primary, in which the top four vote-getters, regardless of party, advance to the general election for the ranked-choice vote. For some people, the primary had an almost counterintuitive feel.
Peltola, Begich and Republican Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom were the most prominent candidates among the 12 candidates competing in the primary.
Dahlstrom claimed endorsements from now-President-elect Donald Trump and House leaders.
Dahlstrom, who finished third behind Peltola and Begich in the primary, faced pressure from Republicans to consolidate behind Begich, and dropped out of the race, along with the Republican who finished fourth.
This allowed the fifth- and sixth-place finishers in the primary, Alaska Independence Party candidates John Wayne Howe and Eric Hafner, a Democrat with no apparent ties to Alaska, to be included on the ballot after threatening authorities. Is serving a 20 year jail sentence. and others in New Jersey.
The Alaska Democratic Party unsuccessfully filed suit to disqualify Hafner.
Trump, who blamed Begich for causing Republicans to lose seats in 2022, including to 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, threw his support behind Begich after Dahlstrom withdrew. During a tele-rally for Begich in October, Trump called Peltola’s election “sudden”.
“Nick Begich will be an incredible fighter in Congress and will work hand-in-hand with me to get things done for the people of Alaska,” Trump said.
Begich, the founder of a software development company, was vocal in his support of Trump and attacked Peltola for refusing to endorse a candidate in the presidential race.
“Some candidates in this race don’t want to tell Alaskans who they support for president, but Alaskans deserve transparency from their representative in Congress. “We deserve to know whether he will align with people with a pro-Alaska agenda or with people who want to close our state,” he said in September.
Begich and Peltola shared common ground on some energy issues, but Begich sought to portray Peltola as ineffective in stopping actions taken by the Biden administration that limit resource development.
On the same general election ballot, Trump carried the state, and voters were asked whether to repeal the open primary and ranked vote general election system they had approved only four years earlier. This system was used for the first time in 2022.
Begich supported the repeal effort. That race was canceled Wednesday night pending certification and any potential recount requests.
(TagstoTranslate)Politics(T)US news(T)Alaska(T)Donald Trump(T)Elections(T)Republican Party(T)US House of Representatives
