Former President Donald Trump’s candidates saw more midterm defeats in Alaska as Democratic Representative Mary Peltola won her re-election bid to Alaska’s only congressional seat and Republican incumbent Senator Lisa Murkowski rebuffed another Republican’s challenge.
Peltola won against former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin for a full two-year term. Peltola defeated Palin previously in August in a special election to fill the remainder of the term of the late Republican Rep. Don Young.
And Murkowski, a Republican who voted to impeach Trump in his second impeachment trial for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, survived a challenge from Kelly Tshibaka, a former commissioner in the administration department. ‘Alaska. Seeking to purge the GOP of any critics, Trump endorsed Tshibaka and actively campaigned against Murkowski.
What took so long?
The Nov. 8 election this year was the first general election to test Alaska’s new ranked voting system that voters approved in a 2020 ballot initiative.
As a result, vote counting was a longer process in Alaska compared to other states. If no candidate obtained more than 50% of the votes, the votes would be reallocated to the candidate in last position.
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Peltola won the general election by a wider margin than in her special election in August, beating Palin 54.9% to 45.1%. In the special election, she won 51.5% to 48.5%.
Murkowski’s run was narrower. She beat Tshibaka 53.7% to 46.3%.
“Thank you, Alaska. I am honored that Alaskans — of all regions, backgrounds, and partisan affiliations — have once again placed their trust in me to continue to work with them and on their behalf in the U.S. Senate,” Murkowski said in a statement after the interview. appeal of the race in his favour. .
Peltola becomes the first Alaskan native to serve a full term
Peltola makes history as the first Alaskan native to win a full term in the House and is also the first Democrat to hold the state’s single seat since 1970.
“Alaskans voted for a better future, a future where our fisheries are rehabilitated, our rights are preserved, and our families can afford not just to survive, but to thrive,” Peltola tweeted after his victory. “I’m glad they did. Now is the time to make it a reality.
Peltola’s victory is also a blow to Palin, who has tried to engineer a political comeback through the House race and Trump’s endorsement.