Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, a Republican, declared her candidacy for the state’s at-large House seat on Wednesday.
In a statement, she vowed to fight to protect Alaska’s distinct “way of life” and combat the Biden administration’s and Washington liberals’ “assault on Alaska.”
“I have seen how [Washington] politicians betray Alaskans every day,” Ms. Dahlstrom said in her campaign announcement. “In Congress, I will stop Biden and the extreme liberals ruining our future, bankrupting our families, killing our jobs, harming our military and veterans, and threatening our security.”
Her entry into the race makes her the second Republican contender aiming to unseat Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat who secured the seat with the endorsement of key Republican figures, in a special election in 2022 after the passing of long-time GOP Congressman Don Young.
“I’ve dedicated my career advocating for our military and veterans, protecting our families by locking up violent criminals, and developing Alaska’s natural resources, energy, and jobs,” Ms. Dahlstrom asserted. “Talk is cheap, results matter.”
“Alaska needs Washington to stop working against us, and no one will fight harder for Alaska’s way of life than me,” she continued.
Ms. Dahlstrom positioned herself as a proven fighter against what she asserted were detrimental policies emanating from the nation’s capital.
She plans to continue her duties as lieutenant governor, overseeing elections, and has expressed her commitment to Alaska’s future, promising to counter what she perceives as harmful policies emanating from the federal government.
Race Against Peltola
Ms. Dahlstrom’s candidacy increases the competition in the race against Ms. Peltola, who secured her position not only in the special election but also in the subsequent November 2022 midterm elections.Ms. Peltola, a former state lawmaker and the first Alaska Native woman to represent the state in Congress, has proven to be a difficult Democrat to unseat in a traditionally Republican-leaning state.
Almost 20 percent of Alaska’s population is indigenous, the highest proportion in the United States.
In the 2022 elections, Ms. Peltola defeated challenges from Republican Nick Begich, who is making his third attempt to unseat her, as well as former Gov. Sarah Palin and Libertarian Chris Bye.
The adoption of a ranked-choice voting system in 2022 added a new dynamic to Alaska’s electoral landscape. The upcoming race is set against the backdrop of Alaska’s open primary system, where the top four vote-getters, irrespective of party affiliation, advance to the general election.
When Ms. Peltola first ran for the seat, she billed herself on her website as “Alaska’s best shot at keeping an extremist from winning,” and said she was “the only candidate in this race who isn’t a multi-millionaire.”
Despite Alaska’s historical Republican voting patterns, Ms. Peltola secured endorsements from influential GOP figures such as Sen. Lisa Murkowski and support from the late Rep. Don Young’s staff and family. This has been attributed to her prioritizing state issues over nationalizing the races and her support for the Willow oil and gas project, in a state dependent on the oil and gas industry for jobs.
In September, the congresswoman’s husband, Eugene Peltola Jr., 57, died in a small plane crash in rural Alaska on return from a remote hunting camp.
