U.S. House candidate profile: Mary Peltola

Mary Peltola is Alaska’s current representative in the U.S. House. She has held the position since August 2022, when a special election was held to fill the seat after Don Young passed away. Peltola won the seat again in the November general election that same year.

Peltola is facing new challengers as the incumbent’s first term comes to an end. Alaskans will decide whether to keep her in the position, or to opt for someone else.

According to her official candidate statement — which can be found at https://www.elections.alaska.gov/candidates/ — Peltola is “Pro-Fish, Pro-Jobs, Pro-Choice and Pro-Family.”

Peltola — a registered Democrat — has campaigned and worked on a largely bipartisan platform.

She has supported legislation regarding the protection of abortion and contraceptive access, investing in rural infrastructure and investing in renewable energy.

Peltola is credited with having been a major factor in the Biden administration’s decision to reapprove the Willow Project. ConocoPhillips claims that the project will “create over 2,500 construction jobs and approximately 300 long-term jobs.”

Peltola also supports Americans’ Second Amendment rights and has stated, “As the owner of 176 long guns, I dare someone to tread on Alaskan freedoms.”

Peltola has worked to advance the interests of Alaska Native communities through legislation that supports economic development, healthcare initiatives and visibility of Alaska Natives. 

For example, Peltola sponsored the Native American Millennium Challenge Demonstration Act, which would have provided economic assistance to rural Alaskan communities if it was enacted.

Peltola’s political career began in Juneau as a representative for Bethel in the state legislature — a position in which she spent ten years.

After serving in the state legislature, Peltola worked as Manager of Community Development and Sustainability for the Donlin Gold Project and as Executive Director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

She also served on the Orutsararmiut Native Council Tribal Court and the Bethel City Council, as well as the boards of the Nature Conservancy, the Alaska Humanities Forum, the Alaska Children’s Trust and the Russian Orthodox Sacred Sites in Alaska.

Peltola is 51 years old and has lived in Alaska her entire life.