Alaska Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola lost her reelection campaign Wednesday, a little more than two years after she unexpectedly flipped the Republican-held seat.
Peltola lost to Republican challenger Nick Begich III — a businessman, grandson of former Rep. Nick Begich (D) and nephew of former Sen. Mark Begich (D). The winner ended up with 51 percent of the vote after more ballots were counted and the state applied its rank choice voting process.
Peltola got to Congress following a 2022 special election following Republican Rep. Don Young’s death. She flipped the seat from Republican control on a centrist message that included promoting fisheries, natural resources and abortion rights, among other priorities; she made “Fish, Family, Freedom” a campaign motto.
She continued to push fishery priorities through a seat on the Natural Resources Committee. But some of her conservative or centrist positions on natural resources ruffled feathers within the Democratic Party.
