Democrat Mary Peltola made history this summer by unseating Republican Party Representative Sarah Palin in a special election. She will now serve in Congress for a full term.
On November 8, voters chose Peltola over Sarah Palin, Nick Begich, and Libertarian candidate Chris Bye of the Republican Party. Results from the election with ranked ballots were made public on Wednesday. Palin and Begich were both candidates in the special election.
According to the Anchorage Daily News, Peltola remarked, “It’s a two-year contract,” after hearing the final tally of 55% to 45% that gave her the victory over Palin. I’d be happy to return to serving Alaskans if they express interest in having me back.
In August, Yup’ik woman Mary Peltola made history by becoming the first Native and female representative in Alaska’s state legislature. The win not only gave her a boost in the polls but also allowed her to outraise her opponents financially in the run-up to the election this month.
If approved by voters, Alaska will implement ranked-choice voting in 2020. The complete implementation is expected in 2022.
Regardless of a voter’s party affiliation, the top four candidates from each party in Alaska’s primary elections will advance to the general election in November. Voters rank the four major-party candidates in an election from best to worst.
The state will count the ranked-choice votes, eliminating the candidate with the fewest votes and giving them to the candidates who came in second and third if no candidate receives a majority of the first-choice vote. After two rounds of voting, the candidate with the fewest votes is disqualified.
Peltola Interview with CNN
Palin and Begich urged voters to “rank the red” and choose them first and second.
Mary Peltola won over many in the state after her special election victory, in part because she has deep relationships with Republicans.
Peltola told CNN that she and Palin bonded in Juneau over being new mothers, and that Palin’s family gave her family its backyard trampoline when she resigned.
Palin lauded Peltola at an AFN forum in October.
“I have no gripes. She should switch parties. But love her, “Palin on Peltola.
Young’s family was close to Peltola’s. Peltola’s father and Young were schoolmates and hunting buddies, she said.
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