Mary Peltola

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Mary Peltola
Akalleq
U.S. Representative Mary Peltola, 117th Congress.jpg
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
Constituency
  • 39th district (1999–2003)
  • 38th district (2003–2009)
Personal details
Born
Mary Sattler

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

Joe Nelson
​
(divorced)​

Gene Peltola
Children7 (including 3 stepchildren)
WebsiteHouse website

Mary Peltola (née Sattler; Yup'ik: Akalleq;[1] formerly Kapsner; born August 31, 1973) is an American former tribal court judge and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Alaska's at-large congressional district since September 2022. A member of the Democratic Party, she served as a judge on the Orutsararmiut Native Council's tribal court from 2020 to 2021, and as the executive director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.

Peltola served as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009. After representing the 39th district from 1999 to 2003, she represented the 38th district for the remainder of her tenure.

Peltola defeated former governor Sarah Palin and Alaska Policy Forum board member Nick Begich III in the August 16, 2022, special election to succeed Don Young, who died in March 2022.[2] She is the first Alaska Native member of Congress, the first woman to represent Alaska in the House, the first representative from Alaska to have been born in the state, and the first Democrat to represent the state in the House since 1972, when Nick Begich disappeared during a campaign flight and was later declared dead. Peltola is the first Democrat to represent her state in either chamber of Congress since Mark Begich left office in 2015. She is seeking election to a full term in the regularly scheduled November 2022 election. She is only the fifth Representative from Alaska to the U.S. House since statehood.

Early life and education

Peltola is Yup'ik from Western Alaska. She was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 31, 1973.[3][2] Her father, Ward Sattler, moved to Alaska to work as a pilot and teacher.[4] Her mother, Elizabeth "LizAnn" Piicigaq Williams, is Yup'ik from Kwethluk.[5] Peltola was raised in the communities of Kwethluk, Tuntutuliak, Platinum, and Bethel.[6] As a child, she traveled with her father around Alaska as he campaigned for Congressman Don Young.[2] As a college student, she worked as a herring and salmon technician for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.[2] Peltola studied elementary education at the University of Northern Colorado (1991 to 1994) 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).[4]

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.[7]

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.[2] Peltola worked as the campaign manager for Ivan's challenger, Independent candidate Willie Kasayulie, in the general election.[8] Later, she was a reporter.[2]

In 1998, Peltola was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives,[2] after a successful rematch against Ivan in the Democratic primary.[9] She appeared on the ballot under her maiden name, though she was married to Jonathan Kapsner at the time.[10] 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.[11]

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.[2][12]

Later career (2009–2022)

In 2010, Peltola helped Republican Lisa Murkowski run her write-in campaign for U.S. Senate.[2] 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.[13] Since 2017, Peltola has served as executive director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission.[14][2] From 2020 to 2021, she served as a judge on the Orutsararmiut Native Council's tribal court.[15][16]

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

Peltola at a Planned Parenthood rally in July 2022

Elections

2022 special

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

Peltola was one of the three remaining of 50 initial candidates in the June 11 primary for 2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election.[17] 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.[18] Gross endorsed Peltola after dropping out of the race.[19] Three Alaska voters filed a losing suit to challenge the decision not to allow Republican Tara Sweeney, the fifth placer in the primary, to be allowed to advance to the runoff.[20] The case lost and Sweeney subsequently withdrew her candidacy.[21] Peltola defeated Palin and Begich in the ranked-choice runoff tabulation.

2022

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

Peltola is seeking a full term in the 2022 general election.[22] She advanced to the general election in first place, receiving 36.8% of the votes in the primary.[23] 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 ranked choice in the November 2022 election.[24] She 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."[24]

Ahead of the November 2022 election, Peltola announced endorsements from Congressman Don Young's daughters, Joni Nelson and Dawn Vallely, in addition to Young's former communications director Zack Brown.[25] Various other friends and former staff of Young endorsed Peltola in a formal endorsement letter.[26]

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.[27] This marked the first time in U.S. history that a Native American (Sharice Davids, Yvette Herrell, Markwayne Mullin, and Tom Cole), Alaska Native (Peltola), and Native Hawaiian (Kai Kahele) simultaneously served in Congress.[28]

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.[29]

Committee assignments

Personal life

Peltola resides in Bethel, Alaska, with her husband, Gene Peltola,[6][31][32] the director of the Alaska Regional Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.[33] She has four children and three stepchildren.[32][34] Peltola is a tribal member of the Orutsararmiut Native Council.[5] She is a member of the Russian Orthodox Church in Alaska.[35]

Electoral history

Alaska House of Representatives, District 39, Democratic primary results, 1996[36]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ivan Ivan 1,228 39.6
Democratic Mary K. Sattler 1,172 37.8
WAID Willie Kasayulie 701 22.6
Total votes 3,101 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 39, Democratic primary results, 1998[37]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Sattler 1,667 53.41
Democratic Ivan Ivan (incumbent) 1,233 39.51
WAI Dario Notti 221 7.08
Total votes 3,121 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 39, election results, 1998[38]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Sattler 3,287 72.18
WAI Dario Notti 1,210 26.57
Write-ins 57 1.25
Total votes 4,554 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 39, Democratic primary results, 2000[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Kapsner (incumbent) 1,201 100
Total votes 1,201 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 39, election results, 2000[40]
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[41]
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[42]
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[43]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Kapsner (incumbent) 1,538 100
Total votes 1,538 100
Alaska House of Representatives, District 38, election results, 2004[44]
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[45]
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[46]
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[47][48]
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 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska
Party Candidate Round 1
Votes % Transfer
Republican Nick Begich
Libertarian Chris Bye
Republican Sarah Palin
Democratic Mary Peltola (incumbent)
Write-in
Total votes
Inactive ballots

See also

References

  1. ^ 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.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ 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?". Washington Post. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "Mary Sattler Kapsner". The Alaska State Legislature. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Representative Nelson". August 8, 2007. Archived from the original on August 8, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  5. ^ 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 2, 2022.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Pageant Winner Acts as Ambassador for Natives". Daily Sitka Sentinel. November 22, 1995. p. 11. Retrieved September 1, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Sen. Ivan's Primary Foe Now Backs Republican". Daily Sitka Sentinel. October 7, 1996. p. 2. Retrieved September 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Our Campaigns - AK State House 39 - Open Primary Race - Aug 25, 1998". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  10. ^ State of Alaska Official Election Pamphlet (Region IV ed.). Juneau: Alaska Division of Elections. October 1998. p. 34.
  11. ^ "Our Campaigns - AK State House 38 - D Primary Race - Aug 27, 2002". www.ourcampaigns.com.
  12. ^ Kitchenman, Andrew (September 9, 2016). "What is the future of the Bush Caucus?". Alaska Public Media. KTOO Juneau. Archived from the original on April 4, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Estus, Joaqlin. "Fishing rights untouched in Alaska takeover of navigable waters". Indian Country Today. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  15. ^ "CANDIDATE Q&A: U.S. House — Mary Peltola". Anchorage Daily News. August 7, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  16. ^ Hounshell, Blake (August 31, 2022). "Mary Peltola, a Democrat, Defeats Sarah Palin in Alaska's Special House Election". The New York Times. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  17. ^ Ruskin, Liz; Media, Alaska Public (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.
  18. ^ Gross withdrawal scrambles Alaska US House race Archived September 1, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Washington Post, Becky Bohrer (AP), June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  19. ^ Hounshell, Blake (August 31, 2022). "Mary Peltola, a Democrat, Defeats Sarah Palin in Alaska's Special House Election". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  20. ^ Lawsuit says Tara Sweeney should advance in Alaska's US House special election Archived June 24, 2022, at the Wayback Machine, Anchorage Daily News, Becky Bohrer, Associated Press, June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  21. ^ Tara Sweeney drops out of Alaska U.S. House race, Anchorage Daily News, Iris Samuels (ADN), August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "Live Alaska House Election Results 2022 – NBC News". www.nbcnews.com. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  24. ^ a b At AFN, Murkowski says she’ll vote for longtime friend and Democrat Mary Peltola for U.S. House, Anchorage Daily News, October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  25. ^ Schonfeld, Zach (October 27, 2022). "Peltola endorsed by late GOP Rep. Young's daughters, former staffer". The Hill. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  26. ^ Ferguson, Jack; Brown, Zack; Day, Pamela; Mike “Keawe”; erson; Desrochers, Nicole; Harrigan, Linda; Croft, Holly; Kenny, Meredith. "OPINION: We're former staff members and friends of Don Young. We support Mary Peltola for U.S. House". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  27. ^ Chen, Shawna (September 13, 2022). "Mary Peltola sworn in as first Alaska Native Congress member in historic moment". Axios. Retrieved September 13, 2022.
  28. ^ Diaz, Jaclyn (September 20, 2022). "U.S. Congress reaches a milestone in Indigenous representation". NPR. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  29. ^ a b Ruskin, Liz (September 29, 2022). "Alaska congresswoman's first bill passes House". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  30. ^ "Pelosi Announces New Committee Assignments". Speaker Nancy Pelosi. September 13, 2022.
  31. ^ Cockerham, Sean (April 11, 2009). "Senate Democrats reject another Palin pick". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ Ruskin, Liz (June 30, 2022). "Peltola's superpower: US House nominee disarms with unexpected niceness". Alaska Public Media. Anchorage, AK. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  35. ^ "How a Democrat Won a State With Just 12% Dem Voters". The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  36. ^ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". elections.alaska.gov. Retrieved September 6, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  37. ^ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". elections.alaska.gov. Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  38. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  39. ^ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". elections.alaska.gov. Archived from the original on January 24, 2017. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  40. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  41. ^ (PDF) https://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/Archive/02PRIM/data/results.pdf. Retrieved September 4, 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  42. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  43. ^ (PDF) https://www.elections.alaska.gov/results/04PRIM/data/Results.pdf. Retrieved September 4, 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  44. ^ "State of Alaska 2004 General Election Official Results" (PDF). Retrieved September 4, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  45. ^ (PDF) https://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/Archive/06PRIM/data/results.pdf. Retrieved September 4, 2022. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  46. ^ "State of Alaska 2006 General Election Official Results" (PDF). Retrieved September 4, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  47. ^ "State of Alaska | 2022 SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION | Election Summary Report | August 16, 2022 | OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. August 31, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  48. ^ "State of Alaska | 2022 SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION | RCV Tabulation | August 16, 2022 | OFFICIAL RESULTS" (PDF). Alaska DIvision of Elections. September 2, 2022. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mary 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
430th 		Succeeded by
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