Former President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican House candidate Nick Begich in his bid to unseat Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) in the upcoming election. Trump’s endorsement comes after his initial preferred candidate, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, dropped out of the race following the primary.
Begich, who placed second in the primary, is now the sole Republican candidate in the running. Trump expressed his confidence in Begich’s ability to win, stating that he is an “outstanding” candidate who will bring a much-needed Republican presence to the state’s congressional delegation.
The Alaska congressional race has been marked by controversy, with Dahlstrom’s withdrawal from the race paving the way for Begich to consolidate the GOP vote. In 2022, the Republican vote was split between Begich and former Gov. Sarah Palin, allowing Peltola to win the seat in a ranked-choice voting system.
This year’s election will feature a crowded field, with Begich, Peltola, Democratic candidate Eric Hafner, and Alaskan Independence Party challenger John Wayne Howe vying for the seat. Under Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system, voters will rank the candidates in order of preference, with the winner determined by a process of elimination if no candidate receives more than 50% of the first-choice vote count.
The Alaska Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of Hafner’s placement on the ballot, despite a challenge from the Democratic Party. Hafner, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence in New York, was deemed eligible to run despite his incarceration.
Alaska Democrats have criticized Begich’s chances of winning, with Executive Director Lindsay Kavanaugh stating that he is a “longshot” candidate who will not be able to overcome Peltola’s lead. However, with Trump’s endorsement, Begich may be able to gain momentum in the final stretch of the campaign.
