ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Alaska Lt. Gov.
Nancy Dahlstrom, a Republican backed by former President Donald Trump, withdrew from the race for the state’s lone seat in the U.S. House on Friday after finishing third in this week’s primary.
Her decision left second-place finisher Republican Nick Begich as the main challenger to Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, who is the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress.
Under Alaska’s open primary system, voters were asked to pick one candidate, with the top four vote-getters in the race, regardless of party affiliation, advancing to the ranked choice general election.
The general election is expected to be hotly contested.
Begich said before the primary he would withdraw from the race if he finished behind Dahlstrom.
Dahlstrom did not make a similar pledge, but told The Associated Press she would to talk with Begich, Republican Gov.
Friday marked 74 days until the Nov. 5 general election.
ANCHORAGE, AK (AP): Alaska Lt. Gov. Republican Nancy Dahlstrom, who was supported by former President Donald Trump, pulled out of the contest for the state’s lone U.S. S. Following their third-place finish in this week’s primary, the House on Friday.
Her choice left Republican Nick Begich, who placed second, as the primary opponent of Democratic Rep. The first Alaska Native to hold a position in Congress is Mary Peltola.
In a statement issued by her campaign, Dahlstrom stated, “I entered this race because Alaskans deserve better representation than what we have received from Mary Peltola in Washington.”. “At present, the most effective way for me to achieve that objective is to remove my name from the general election ballot and terminate my campaign. “.
Among the twelve candidates vying for the seat in Alaska’s primary, Peltola, Begich, and Dahlstrom emerged as the most notable figures. The top four candidates in the contest, regardless of party affiliation, advanced to the ranked choice general election under Alaska’s open primary system, which allowed voters to select one candidate.
The vote count began with Peltola leading, then Begich, Dahlstrom, and finally Peltola. It was too soon to predict who would place fourth.
We anticipate fierce competition in the general election. The Republican-held seat is one that the GOP wants to take back. S. Rep. Don Young served for forty-nine years until his passing in 2022. Both the regular and special elections that year went to Peltola, who was elected to the seat.
In addition to highlighting achievements made during Peltola’s tenure, Elisa Rios, Mary’s campaign manager, said in a statement that “Mary was so proud to have received more than 50% of the vote last Tuesday when many voters probably assumed she would be moving forward to the general election without their votes.”. “We believe that this November, voters will choose the same option. “.
Numerous local Republican organizations backed Begich, who made an unsuccessful bid for the seat in 2022. Trump and a number of House leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, supported Dahlstrom.
In a Friday social media post, Begich praised Dahlstrom for leading a “strong campaign.”. “.
Begich wrote, “Today we move forward unified in the effort to replace Mary Peltola, who has proven that she is not the moderate she claimed to be by her alignment with the left.”.
Prior to the primary, Begich declared that if he trailed Dahlstrom in the race, he would concede. Dahlstrom told The Associated Press that while she would speak with Republican Governor Begich, she did not make a similar commitment. Mike Dunleavy and the state Republican Party chairman to assess “who got what and what it’s going to take to have a conservative in that seat vote-wise” following the primary. “.
Begich, who comes from a family of well-known Alaska Democrats, is “a great choice,” according to the National Republican Congressional Committee, which had previously backed Dahlstrom. “.
In an email, committee chairman Richard Hudson said, “I want to thank Nancy Dahlstrom for stepping into the arena this year. She has led a life of service.”. “Her unselfish choice today unites voters behind a single Republican, putting Alaskans and the team first. “.
The candidate who finishes in fifth place advances to the general election ballot if, within 64 days of the primary, one of the top four contenders in the primary passes away, withdraws, or is disqualified, as required by state law. It was Friday, 74 days until November. Five general elections.
Lesser-known Republican Matthew Salisbury and Alaska Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe, who were each receiving less than 1 percent of the vote, would be the other two candidates to move on to the general election if the early results hold true.
