Mary Peltola
Mary Sattler Peltola (Yup'ik: Akalleq; born August 31, 1973) is an American Democratic politician. Peltola was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alaska's at-large congressional district from 2022 to 2025. She is the first woman to represent Alaska in the U.S. House and the first Alaska Native in congress.[1] She lost her re-election in 2024 to Republican Nick Begich III.[2][3] She is currently running for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 election, against Republican Senator Dan Sullivan.
Mary Peltola | |||||||||
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Akalleq | |||||||||
.jpeg) Official portrait, 2022 | |||||||||
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alaska's at-large district | |||||||||
| In office September 13, 2022 – January 3, 2025 | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Don Young | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Nick Begich III | ||||||||
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives | |||||||||
| In office January 19, 1999 – January 19, 2009 | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Ivan Ivan | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Bob Herron | ||||||||
| Constituency |
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| Personal details | |||||||||
| Born | Mary Sattler 31 August 1973 (aged 52) Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. | ||||||||
| Citizenship | United States Orutsararmiut Native Council | ||||||||
| Political party | Democratic | ||||||||
| Spouse(s) | |||||||||
| Children | 7 (3 stepchildren) | ||||||||
| Website | House website | ||||||||
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Early life
Peltola was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 31, 1973.[4] Her Yup'ik name is Akalleq (transl. the one who rolled).[5][6] Peltola is Yup'ik from Western Alaska.
Peltola studied elementary education at the University of Northern Colorado from 1991 to 1993 and later took courses at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Alaska Southeast, and University of Alaska Anchorage from 1994 to 1998.[7]
Political career
Before, she was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009.
Peltola was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives for Alaska's at-large congressional district in the 2022 special election to fill in the vacancy of Don Young and in the November 2022 general election.[8][9] She won the election on August 31, 2022, defeating former Governor Sarah Palin.[1]
Peltola is the first Alaska Native member of Congress and the only Russian Orthodox member of Congress.[10]
Peltola lost her re-election in November 2024 to Republican Nick Begich III.[11]
In early January 2026, it was reported that Peltola was expected to run for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 election.[12] She officially announced her candidacy on January 12, 2026.[13]
Personal life
She has four biological children and three stepchildren.[14]
Her third husband, Eugene "Buzzy" Peltola Jr., was Alaska director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.[15][16] He died in September 2023 after being in a plane crash.[17][18]
Mary Peltola Media
Peltola testifying before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 2018
Peltola during the 117th Congress
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi swears in Peltola as husband, Gene "Buzzy" Peltola, and family look on
Peltola on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in 2023
Representative Mary Peltola posts "Today is the summer solstice! In my hometown of Bethel, we’ll have over 19 hours of daylight. This is time that Alaskans love to spend outside with friends and family, and celebrating the amazing place we live. While I’m working in D.C. today, my heart is back on the water!”
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Samuels, Iris. Democrat Mary Peltola wins special U.S. House election, will be first Alaska Native elected to Congress (in en-US). Anchorage Daily News (31 August 2022). Retrieved 31 August 2022.
- ↑ 2024 House General Election Results | DDHQ (in en-us). decisiondeskhq.com. Retrieved 2024-11-26.
- ↑ Mueller, Julia. Mary Peltola ousted by GOP opponent Nick Begich in Alaska House race (in en-US). The Hill (2024-11-16). Retrieved 2024-11-19.
- ↑ Mary Sattler KapsnerThe Alaska State Legislature. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ↑ Samuels, Iris. For two candidates, Alaska's U.S. House race is an opportunity to make history (in en). Anchorage Daily News (August 8, 2022). Retrieved August 27, 2023.
- ↑ ((House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Water, Oceans, And Wildlife)). Written Testimony of Mary Sattler Peltola (2021)Alaska State Legislature. p. 1. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
- ↑ Representative Nelson (August 8, 2007). Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ↑ Ruskin, Liz. Sarah Palin among 50 candidates running to fill remainder of Don Young's term in US House (in en-US). Alaska Public Media (2022-04-02). Retrieved 2022-04-04.
- ↑ Candidate list keeps growing with former lawmaker Mary Sattler Peltola. Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ↑ Brodey, Sam (October 21, 2022). "How a Democrat Won a State With Just 12% Dem Voters". The Daily Beast. https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-democrat-mary-peltola-won-a-state-with-just-12-dem-voters-alaska. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
- ↑ Nicholas Begich projected to win Alaska US House-at-large race. NewsNation. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ↑ Nichols, Hans. Scoop: Mary Peltola moves toward Alaska Senate campaign. AxiosAxios Media Inc.. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
- ↑ Nichols, Hans. Mary Peltola plunges into Alaska Senate race (in en). Axios (2026-01-12). Retrieved 2026-01-12.
- ↑ Ruskin, Liz (June 30, 2022). Peltola's superpower: US House nominee disarms with unexpected niceness. Alaska Public Media. https://alaskapublic.org/2022/06/30/peltolas-superpower-us-house-nominee-disarms-with-unexpected-niceness/. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
- ↑ Wang, Jackie; Ackley, Kate (August 31, 2022). "Peltola wins Alaska special election to fill Young's House seat". Roll Call. https://rollcall.com/2022/08/31/peltola-wins-alaska-special-election-to-fill-youngs-house-seat/. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ↑ MacArthur, Anna Rose (July 10, 2018). Gene Peltola Jr. Of Bethel Named To Alaska's Top BIA Position. KYUK. https://www.kyuk.org/politics/2018-07-10/gene-peltola-jr-of-bethel-named-to-alaskas-top-bia-position. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ↑ AKPM Staff. Rep. Mary Peltola's husband dies after Alaska plane crash (in en-US). Alaska Public Media (September 13, 2023). Retrieved September 14, 2023.
- ↑ Rep. Mary Peltola's husband killed in plane crash in Alaska. Anchorage Daily News (September 13, 2023). Retrieved September 13, 2023.
Other websites
- Representative Mary Sattler Peltola Archived 2025-01-02 at the Wayback Machine official U.S. House website
- Mary Peltola for Alaska campaign website
- Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
- Voting record maintained by The Washington Post
- Biography, voting record, and interest group ratings at Project Vote Smart
- Campaign finance reports and data at the Federal Election Commission
- Appearances on C-SPAN
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