Democrat Mary Peltola won the special election to represent Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat, according to the Alaska Division of Elections.
Peltola defeated Republican Sarah Palin, the former governor and 2008 vice presidential nominee, who was endorsed by Trump, on her way to becoming the first Democrat to represent the seat in nearly half a century.
She will serve the remainder of the term of Republican Don Young, who died earlier this year. Peltola will be up for re-election on Nov. 8 where she will once again face Palin, Nick Begich III and potentially a fourth candidate, Libertarian Chris Bye,
Peltola celebrated her victory on Wednesday in a post on Twitter, writing: “It is a GOOD DAY”
“I’m honored and humbled by the support I have received from across Alaska,” Peltola said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing Don Young’s legacy of bipartisanship, serving all Alaskans and building support for Alaska’s interests in DC. “
Her victory is a major upset in a state Trump won by 10 points in the 2020 presidential election against a candidate he endorsed.
Peltola, who is Yup’ik will become the first Native Alaskan elected to Congress.
