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Mary Peltola

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Mary Peltola
Akalleq
Peltola in 2022
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alaska's at-large district
Assumed office
September 13, 2022
Preceded byDon Young
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
In office
January 19, 1999 – January 19, 2009
Preceded byIvan Ivan
Succeeded byBob Herron
Constituency38th district (2003–2009)
39th district (1999–2003)
Personal details
Born
Mary Sattler

(1973-08-31) August 31, 1973 (age 50)
Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Jonathan Kapsner
​
(divorced)​

Joe Nelson
​
(divorced)​

Gene Peltola
Children7 (including 3 stepchildren)
ResidenceBethel, Alaska
WebsiteHouse website

Mary Sattler Peltola[1] (née Sattler; Yup'ik: Akalleq;[2] formerly Nelson,[3] formerly Kapsner;[4] born August 31, 1973) is an American politician and former tribal judge serving as the U.S. representative from Alaska's at-large congressional district since September 2022. She previously served as a judge on the Orutsararmiut Native Council's tribal court, executive director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Bethel city councillor and member of the Alaska House of Representatives.

A member of the Democratic Party, Peltola defeated former Governor Sarah Palin and Alaska Policy Forum board member Nick Begich in an upset in the August 2022 special election to succeed Don Young, who died in March that year.[5] In doing so, she became the first Alaska Native member of Congress and the only Russian Orthodox,[6] as well as the first woman ever to represent Alaska in the House, and first Democrat since Nick Begich Sr. in 1972. She was reelected to a full term in the regularly scheduled election in November 2022.[7]

Early life and education

Peltola is Yup'ik from Western Alaska. She was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 31, 1973.[8][5] Her father, Ward Sattler, a German-American from Nebraska, moved to Alaska to work as a pilot and teacher.[9][10] Her mother, Elizabeth "LizAnn" Piicigaq Williams, is Yup'ik from Kwethluk.[11] Peltola was raised in the communities of Kwethluk, Tuntutuliak, Platinum, and Bethel.[12] As a child, she traveled with her father around Alaska as he campaigned for Congressman Don Young.[5] As a college student, she worked as a herring and salmon technician for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.[5] Peltola studied elementary education at the University of Northern Colorado (1991 to Spring 2003) and later took courses at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (1994 to 1995), University of Alaska Southeast (1995 to 1997), and University of Alaska Anchorage (1997 to 1998).[9]

In 1995, Peltola won the Miss National Congress of American Indians pageant. In the competition, she performed two Yup'ik dances and wore traditional clothing including a squirrel skin parka, wolf hair headdress, and mukluks.[13]

Career

Peltola testifying before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 2018

Alaska House of Representatives (1999–2009)

In 1996, Peltola was an Alaska Legislature intern. Later that year, she ran for a Bethel region seat, losing to incumbent Ivan Ivan by 56 votes.[5] Peltola worked as the campaign manager for Ivan's challenger, Independent candidate Willie Kasayulie, in the general election.[14] Later, she was a reporter.[5]

In 1998, Peltola was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives,[5] after a successful rematch against Ivan in the Democratic primary.[15] She appeared on the ballot under her maiden name, though she was married to Jonathan Kapsner at the time.[16] She was elected and reelected mostly without or with only minimal opposition, with Ivan's return to challenge her in the 2002 primary the closest contest she faced.[17]

In the House, Peltola served on various standing committees, including Finance, Resources and Health and Social Services.[citation needed] She helped to rebuild the Bush Caucus, a bipartisan group of representatives and senators who represent rural and off-road communities in Alaska.[5][18]

Later career (2009–2022)

In 2010, Peltola helped Republican Lisa Murkowski run her write-in campaign for U.S. Senate.[5] Peltola worked as manager of community development and sustainability for the Donlin Creek Mine from 2008 to 2014. She was elected to the Bethel City Council in 2011, and served until her term ended in 2013. She was a state lobbyist from 2015 to 2017.[19] Since 2017, Peltola has served as executive director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.[20][5] From 2020 to 2021, she served as a judge on the Orutsararmiut Native Council's tribal court.[21][22]

U.S. House of Representatives (2022–present)

Peltola at a Planned Parenthood rally in July 2022

Elections

Peltola during the
117th Congress

2022 special

Main article: 2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election

Peltola was one of the three candidates to progress to the general election of the 50 who ran in 2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election primary to succeed Don Young, and thereby become the fifth representative from Alaska in the U.S. House since statehood.[23] She advanced to the runoff in fourth place, the only Democrat to do so. Al Gross, an independent in third place in the primary, dropped out of the runoff, leaving two Republicans remaining, former governor Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III.[24] Gross endorsed Peltola after dropping out of the race.[22] Three Alaska voters filed a losing suit to challenge the decision not to allow Republican Tara Sweeney, the fifth placer in the primary, to advance to the runoff.[25] Sweeney subsequently withdrew her candidacy.[26] Peltola defeated Palin and Begich in the ranked-choice runoff tabulation.

2022

Main article: 2022 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska

Peltola sought a full term in the 2022 general election.[27] She advanced to the general election in first place, receiving 36.8% of the votes in the primary.[28] Alaska Republican Lisa Murkowski, running for her fourth term in the U.S. Senate, told Alaska Federation of Natives Convention delegates that she intended to vote for Peltola as her top choice in the 2022 election.[29] Murkowski said: "I do not toe the party line just because party leaders have asked... My first obligation is to the people of the state of Alaska."[29]

Ahead of the November 2022 election, Peltola announced endorsements from Don Young's daughters, Joni Nelson and Dawn Vallely, in addition to Young's former communications director Zack Brown.[30] Various other friends and former staff of Young endorsed Peltola in a formal endorsement letter.[31] Peltola, who received just under 49% of the vote in initial balloting, was declared the winner on November 23, defeating Palin again with 54.9% of the ranked-choice vote, after those votes cast for her as the second-place choice on ballots of the eliminated third-place candidate, Nick Begich III, were added to her total.[32]

Tenure

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) swears in Peltola as her husband, Gene (center), looks on

Peltola was sworn in as Alaska's U.S. representative on September 13, 2022.[33] Upon her swearing in, Congress had an Alaska Native (Peltola), Native Americans (Sharice Davids, Yvette Herrell, Markwayne Mullin, and Tom Cole), and a Native Hawaiian (Kai Kahele) serving simultaneously for the first time ever.[34] She is the fourth Native woman elected to Congress, after Davids, Herrell, and Deb Haaland.

On September 29, 2022, Peltola passed her first bill through the House. The bill would create an Office of Food Security in the Department of Veterans Affairs. Peltola remarked that veterans comprise about 10% of Alaska's population and many of them suffer from food insecurity. Peltola's bill passed the House in a 376–49 vote.[35]

During the 2022 United States railroad labor dispute, Peltola was one of eight House Democrats to vote against a bill that would impose a new contract on railroad workers despite several rail unions voting against it. She said she could not support a contract that did not include paid sick days: "It just seems like a human right, a quality of life issue, to be able to see a doctor, to be able to take a sick day and know that you're not going to lose your job or be severely penalized."[36][37]

Committee assignments

Personal life

Peltola is the first U.S. Representative from Alaska born in the state. She now resides in Bethel with her husband Gene Peltola, Alaska director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.[12][40][41] She has four children and three stepchildren.[40][42] An Alaska Native, Peltola is a tribal member of the Orutsararmiut Native Council.[11] She is a member of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska.[6]

Electoral history

Alaska House of Representatives, District 39, Democratic primary results, 1996[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ivan Ivan 1,228 39.6
Democratic Mary K. Sattler 1,172 37.8
Western Alaska Independent Democrat Willie Kasayulie 701 22.6
Total votes 3,101 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 39, Democratic primary results, 1998[44]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Sattler 1,667 53.41
Democratic Ivan Ivan (incumbent) 1,233 39.51
Western Alaska Independent Dario Notti 221 7.08
Total votes 3,121 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 39, election results, 1998[45]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Sattler 3,287 72.18
Western Alaska Independent Dario Notti 1,210 26.57
Write-in 57 1.25
Total votes 4,554 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 39, Democratic primary results, 2000[46]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Kapsner (incumbent) 1,201 100
Total votes 1,201 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 39, election results, 2000[47]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Kapsner (incumbent) 4,321 97.5
Write-ins 111 2.5
Total votes 4,432 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 38, Democratic primary results, 2002[48]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Kapsner (incumbent) 918 64.51
Democratic Ivan Ivan 505 35.49
Total votes 1,423 100%
Alaska House of Representatives, District 38, election results, 2002[49]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Kapsner (incumbent) 3,419 97.28
Write-ins 93 2.72
Total votes 3,419 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 38, Democratic primary results, 2004[50]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Kapsner (incumbent) 1,538 100
Total votes 1,538 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 38, election results, 2004[51]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Kapsner (incumbent) 3,935 97.84
Write-ins 87 2.16
Total votes 3,935 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 38, Democratic primary results, 2006[52]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Sattler Kapsner (incumbent) 1,451 100
Total votes 1,451 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 38, election results, 2006[53]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Sattler Kapsner (incumbent) 3,553 97.40
Write-ins 95 2.60
Total votes 3,648 100
2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election[54][55]
Party Candidate Round 1 Round 2
Votes % Transfer Votes %
Democratic Mary Peltola 74,817 39.66% +15,467 91,266 51.48%
Republican Sarah Palin 58,339 30.92% +27,053 86,026 48.52%
Republican Nick Begich 52,536 27.85% -52,536 Eliminated
Write-in 2,974 1.58% -2,974 Eliminated
Total votes 188,666 100.00% 177,423 94.04%
Inactive ballots 0 0.00% +11,243 11,243 5.96%
Democratic gain from Republican
2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district election[56]
Party Candidate Round 1 Round 2 Round 3
Votes % Transfer Votes % Transfer Votes %
Democratic Mary Peltola (incumbent) 128,329 48.68% +1,038 129,433 49.20% +7,460 136,893 54.94%
Republican Sarah Palin 67,732 25.74% +1,064 69,242 26.32% +43,013 112,255 45.06%
Republican Nick Begich III 61,431 23.34% +1,988 64,392 24.48% -64,392 Eliminated
Libertarian Chris Bye 4,560 1.73% -4,560 Eliminated
Write-in 1,096 0.42% -1,096 Eliminated
Total votes 263,148 100.00% 263,067 100.00% 249,148 100.00%
Inactive ballots 2,193 0.83% +906 3,097 1.16% +14,765 17,016 5.55%
Democratic hold

See also

References

  1. ^ "Member Profile: Mary Sattler Peltola". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  2. ^ House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Water, Oceans, And Wildlife (2021). Written Testimony of Mary Sattler Peltola (PDF). Alaska State Legislature. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  3. ^ "HOUSE; MARY NELSON; 25TH-25TH LEGISLATURE (2007 -2008)," The Alaska State Legislature, 2022. Retrieved Jan 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "HOUSE; MARY KAPSNER; 21ST-24TH LEGISLATURE (1999 -2006)," The Alaska State Legislature, 2022. Retrieved Jan 6, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Paybarah, Azi (August 31, 2022). "Who is Mary Peltola, the first Alaska Native in Congress?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 2, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Brodey, Sam (October 21, 2022). "How a Democrat Won a State With Just 12% Dem Voters". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  7. ^ Shepard, Steven (November 23, 2022). "Murkowski, Peltola win in Alaska". POLITICO. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  8. ^ "Mary Sattler Kapsner". The Alaska State Legislature. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Representative Nelson". August 8, 2007. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  10. ^ "Alaska Rep-Elect After Beating Sarah Palin: 'No American Is My Enemy'". MSNBC. September 12, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022 – via youtube.com.
  11. ^ a b MacArthur, Anna Rose (July 19, 2022). "ONC and The Organized Village of Kwethluk have endorsed Mary Peltola for US House". KYUK. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Peltola, Mary; Van Valin, Scott; Kampnich, Michael (May 14, 2021). "OP-ED: Fisheries managers should reverse course on censoring public comments". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "Pageant Winner Acts as Ambassador for Natives". Daily Sitka Sentinel. November 22, 1995. p. 11. Retrieved September 1, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Sen. Ivan's Primary Foe Now Backs Republican". Daily Sitka Sentinel. October 7, 1996. p. 2. Retrieved September 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Our Campaigns - AK State House 39 - Open Primary Race - Aug 25, 1998". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  16. ^ State of Alaska Official Election Pamphlet (Region IV ed.). Juneau: Alaska Division of Elections. October 1998. p. 34.
  17. ^ "Our Campaigns - AK State House 38 - D Primary Race - Aug 27, 2002". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  18. ^ Kitchenman, Andrew (September 9, 2016). "What is the future of the Bush Caucus?". Alaska Public Media. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  19. ^ MacArthur, Anna Rose (April 11, 2022). "Former Y-K Delta lawmaker Mary Peltola is running for Alaska's US House seat". KTOO. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  20. ^ Estus, Joaqlin (April 8, 2021). "Fishing rights untouched in Alaska takeover of navigable waters". Indian Country Today. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  21. ^ "CANDIDATE Q&A: U.S. House — Mary Peltola". Anchorage Daily News. August 7, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  22. ^ a b Hounshell, Blake (August 31, 2022). "Mary Peltola, a Democrat, Defeats Sarah Palin in Alaska's Special House Election". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  23. ^ Ruskin, Liz (April 2, 2022). "Sarah Palin among 50 candidates running to fill remainder of Don Young's term in US House". Alaska Public Media. Archived from the original on April 2, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  24. ^ Bohrer, Becky (June 21, 2022). "Gross withdrawal scrambles Alaska US House race". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  25. ^ Bohrer, Becky (June 23, 2022). "Lawsuit says Tara Sweeney should advance in Alaska's US House special election". Anchorage Daily News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  26. ^ Samuels, Iris (August 24, 2022). "Tara Sweeney drops out of Alaska U.S. House race". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on November 9, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  27. ^ Samuels, Iris (August 31, 2022). "Democrat Mary Peltola wins special U.S. House election, will be first Alaska Native elected to Congress". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  28. ^ "Live Alaska House Election Results 2022". NBC News. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  29. ^ a b Hughes, Zachariah (October 21, 2022). "At AFN, Murkowski says she'll vote for longtime friend and Democrat Mary Peltola for U.S. House". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  30. ^ Schonfeld, Zach (October 27, 2022). "Peltola endorsed by late GOP Rep. Young's daughters, former staffer". The Hill. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  31. ^ Ferguson, Jack; Brown, Zack; Day, Pamela; Mike “Keawe”; erson; Desrochers, Nicole; Harrigan, Linda; Croft, Holly; Kenny, Meredith. "We're former staff members and friends of Don Young. We support Mary Peltola for U.S. House". Anchorage Daily News (opinion). Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  32. ^ ago, Iris Samuels Updated: 9 minutes ago Published: 9 minutes. "Rep. Mary Peltola wins Alaska's U.S. House race". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved November 24, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  33. ^ Chen, Shawna (September 13, 2022). "Mary Peltola sworn in as first Alaska Native Congress member in historic moment". Axios. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  34. ^ Diaz, Jaclyn (September 20, 2022). "U.S. Congress reaches a milestone in Indigenous representation". NPR. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  35. ^ a b Ruskin, Liz (September 29, 2022). "Alaska congresswoman's first bill passes House". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  36. ^ "Peltola says it's not right to deny sick leave for rail workers".
  37. ^ "Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola to vote against Joe Biden's rail strike proposal".
  38. ^ "Pelosi Announces New Committee Assignments" (Press release). Speaker Nancy Pelosi. September 13, 2022. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022.
  39. ^ "https://twitter.com/TransportDems/status/1619152606387142656". Twitter. Retrieved January 28, 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  40. ^ a b Wang, Jackie; Ackley, Kate (August 31, 2022). "Peltola wins Alaska special election to fill Young's House seat". Roll Call. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  41. ^ MacArthur, Anna Rose (July 10, 2018). "Gene Peltola Jr. Of Bethel Named To Alaska's Top BIA Position". KYUK. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  42. ^ Ruskin, Liz (June 30, 2022). "Peltola's superpower: US House nominee disarms with unexpected niceness". Alaska Public Media. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  43. ^ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". Alaska Division of Elections. Retrieved September 6, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  44. ^ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". Alaska Division of Elections. Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  45. ^ "State of Alaska 1998 General Election Summary Report" (PDF). December 1, 1998. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  46. ^ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". Alaska Division of Elections. Archived from the original on January 24, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  47. ^ "State of Alaska General Election 2000 Summary Report" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. December 5, 2000. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  48. ^ "State of Alaska August 27, 2002 Primary Election Results" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. September 18, 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
  49. ^ "State of Alaska General Election November 5, 2002 Official Results" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. December 6, 2002. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  50. ^ "State of Alaska 2004 Primary Election Official Results" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. September 14, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  51. ^ "State of Alaska 2004 General Election Official Results" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. December 3, 2004. Retrieved September 4, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  52. ^ "State of Alaska 2006 Primary Election Official Results" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. September 18, 2006. Retrieved September 4, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  53. ^ "State of Alaska 2006 General Election Official Results" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. December 5, 2006. Retrieved September 4, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  54. ^ "State of Alaska 2022 Special General Election Summary Report" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. August 31, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  55. ^ "State of Alaska 2022 Special General Election RCV Tabulation" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. September 2, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  56. ^ "RCV Detailed Report | General Election | State of Alaska" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. November 23, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mary Sattler Peltola.
Alaska House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 39th district
1999–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 38th district
2003–2009 		Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Youngest Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
1999–2007 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Alaska's at-large congressional district
2022–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
358th 		Succeeded by
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