Alaska Republican Nick Begich beats Dem Rep. Mary Peltola in 2024 US House race

Republican Nick Begich Wins Alaska’s US House Race

Republican Nick Begich has emerged victorious in Alaska’s US House race, defeating Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola to secure the seat previously held by his grandfather.

Begich was one of the candidates that Peltola defeated in the special and regular elections of 2022, following the passing of Republican Rep. Don Young, who had represented the seat for 49 years.

Being Yup’ik, Peltola made history as the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress.

With Republicans aiming to maintain control of the House, the race for the seat was closely watched.

On social media, Begich expressed his commitment to fighting for Alaska’s potential, economy, and unique way of life. He also thanked Peltola for her service and acknowledged the challenging nature of the role.

Peltola, in turn, shared that working for Alaskans had been the honor of her life and extended her support to Begich, emphasizing the importance of representing all Alaskans.

Coming from a family of Democratic politicians, Begich positioned himself as a lifelong Republican. He engaged actively in the lead-up to the primary, emphasizing the importance of voter engagement.

In the primary, Begich, Peltola, and Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom were prominent candidates among the 12 contenders. Dahlstrom had garnered support from key figures like Donald Trump and House leaders.

Following Dahlstrom’s withdrawal, the race saw shifts in candidate alignment, leading to a diverse ballot for the general election.

Trump, who supported Begich in the race, emphasized the importance of having a strong representative in Congress to deliver for the people of Alaska.

Begich’s advocacy for transparency and alignment with pro-Alaska agendas set him apart in the race, as he criticized Peltola for not endorsing a presidential candidate.

Despite sharing common ground on some issues, Begich highlighted perceived shortcomings in Peltola’s ability to address resource development limitations imposed by the Biden administration.

As the general election results awaited certification, the state also voted on repealing the open primary and ranked vote system, with Begich endorsing the repeal effort.