2022 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska

The November 2022 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska was held on Tuesday, November 8, to elect a member of the United States House of Representatives to represent the state of Alaska. Democratic incumbent Mary Peltola won re-election to a full term in office, defeating Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III and Libertarian Chris Bye in the runoff count.

2022 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska's at-large district

← 2022 (special)
November 8, 2022
2024 →
 
Candidate Mary Peltola Sarah Palin Nick Begich III
Party Democratic Republican Republican
First round 128,553
48.77%
67,866
25.74%
61,513
23.33%
Maximum round 137,263
54.96%
112,471
45.04%
Eliminated

Peltola:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90%
Palin:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

U.S. Representative before election

Mary Peltola
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Mary Peltola
Democratic

This was the second race in Alaska held under the 2020 Measure 2 election procedure. Earlier that year, a special election was held to complete the term of Don Young, who died in office in March 2022, which Peltola won.

In the race for the full term of the congressional seat, all candidates first ran in a nonpartisan blanket top-four primary. Each voter cast a single vote to choose who would advance to the runoff. Mary Peltola, Sarah Palin, Nick Begich III, and Chris Bye advanced to the runoff.

Under the rules of instant-runoff, Bye and Begich were eliminated in the first and second rounds, after they received the fewest votes. These votes were then transferred to either Peltola or Palin, depending on who the voter ranked higher on their ballot. Peltola won with 55% of the vote, increasing her margin from the special election.

Peltola's final-round vote share of 55% was the best performance for a statewide Democratic candidate in Alaska since the 1974 Senate race, and the best performance for any statewide candidate in Alaska since the 2012 House race. Peltola was one of only five House Democrats in the 2022 midterm elections who won (or flipped) a district that Donald Trump had carried in the 2020 presidential election. She outran Joe Biden's vote share by more than 20%, the highest overperformance of any House Democrat in the midterms.

Social choice theorists commenting on the race noted that unlike the previous special election, the general election involved few election pathologies.[dubious – discuss]

Peltola won the election in the final round, with a majority of voters ranking her over Palin. Peltola was defeated for re-election by Begich in a rematch in 2024.

Primary election

Democratic Party

Advanced to general

  • Mary Peltola, incumbent U.S. representative and former state representative

Withdrew

  • Christopher Constant, Anchorage Assembly member (endorsed Peltola)
  • Mike Milligan, former Kodiak Island Borough Assembly member, Green nominee for this district in 1992 and for lieutenant governor in 1998 (endorsed Peltola)
  • Adam Wool, state representative

Declined

  • Les Gara, former state representative (running for governor)
  • Elvi Gray-Jackson, state senator
  • Emil Notti, engineer, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, former chair of the Alaska Democratic Party, nominee for this district in 1973, and candidate for this district in the 2022 special election

Republican Party

Advanced to general

  • Nick Begich III, Alaska Policy Forum board member, grandson of former U.S. Representative Nick Begich Sr., and nephew of former U.S. senator Mark Begich and Alaska Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich
  • Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska (2006–2009) and nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2008

Withdrew after advancing to general

  • Tara Sweeney, former Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs

Eliminated in primary

  • Jay Armstrong
  • Robert "Bob" Lyons, case manager
  • Randy Purham, businessman and U.S. Army veteran
  • Brad Snowden
  • Denise Williams

Withdrawn

  • John Coghill, former majority leader of the Alaska Senate, former majority leader of the Alaska House of Representatives, son of former lieutenant governor Jack Coghill, and U.S. Air Force veteran (endorsed Begich)
  • Mikel Melander
  • Josh Revak, state senator and U.S. Army veteran
  • Jesse Sumner, Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly member

Declined

  • Mead Treadwell, former lieutenant governor of Alaska (endorsed Palin and Sweeney)

Libertarian Party

Advanced to general

  • Chris Bye, fishing guide

Eliminated in primary

  • J. R. Myers, founder of the Alaska Constitution Party and its nominee for governor in 2014

Alaskan Independence Party

Declined

  • John Howe, machinist and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020 (ran for governor)

American Independent Party

Eliminated in primary

  • Robert Ornelas, pastor and perennial candidate

Independents

Eliminated in primary

  • Gregg Brelsford, lawyer and former Bristol Bay Borough manager
  • Lady Donna Dutchess, judicial reform activist
  • Ted Heintz
  • David Hughes
  • David LeBlanc
  • Sherry Mettler
  • Silvio Pellegrini, businessman
  • Andrew Phelps
  • Sherry Strizak
  • Tremayne Wilson

Withdrawn

  • Al Gross, orthopedic surgeon, commercial fisherman, son of former Alaska attorney general Avrum Gross, and Democratic-endorsed nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020 (endorsed Peltola and Sweeney)
  • William Hibler III, former glaciologist with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Democratic candidate for this district in 2016 and 2020
  • Jeff Lowenfels, attorney and gardening writer

Declined

  • Santa Claus, North Pole city councillor and candidate for this district in the 2022 special election (endorsed Peltola)
  • Andrew Halcro, former Republican state representative, candidate for Governor of Alaska in 2006, and candidate for this district in the 2022 special election

Results

Primary election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Peltola 70,295 36.80
Republican Sarah Palin 57,693 30.20
Republican Nick Begich III 50,021 26.19
Republican Tara Sweeney (withdrew) 7,195 3.77
Libertarian Chris Bye 1,189 0.62
Libertarian J. R. Myers 531 0.28
Republican Bob Lyons 447 0.23
Republican Jay Armstrong 403 0.21
Republican Brad Snowden 355 0.19
Republican Randy Purham 311 0.16
Independent Lady Donna Dutchess 270 0.14
Independent Sherry Strizak 252 0.13
American Independent Robert Ornelas 248 0.13
Republican Denise Williams 242 0.13
Independent Gregg Brelsford 241 0.13
Independent David Hughes 238 0.12
Independent Andrew Phelps 222 0.12
Independent Tremayne Wilson 194 0.10
Independent Sherry Mettler 191 0.10
Independent Silvio Pellegrini 187 0.10
Independent Ted Heintz 173 0.09
Independent Davis LeBlanc 117 0.06
Total votes 191,015 100.00

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Lean D November 1, 2022
Inside Elections Lean D November 3, 2022
Sabato's Crystal Ball Lean D November 2, 2022
Politico Lean D October 26, 2022
RCP Tossup November 3, 2022
Fox News Lean D November 1, 2022
DDHQ Lean D November 8, 2022
FiveThirtyEight Tossup November 3, 2022
The Economist Lean D November 2, 2022

Debates and forums

As of September 2022, there had been one debate featuring the general election candidates.

A little over an hour before election results came in for the final round of the 2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election, a debate was held for candidates of this house seat. All four candidates were included in the debate.

2022 Alaska U.S. Representative debates
No. Date Host Moderator Link Participants
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee W  Withdrawn
Nick Begich III Chris Bye Sarah Palin Mary Peltola
1 August 31, 2022 Alaska Oil and Gas Association Dave Karp P P P P
2 October 4, 2022 Kodiak Chamber of Commerce/KMXT (FM) Dan Rohr P P P P
3 October 10, 2022 Anchorage Chamber of Commerce Julie Hasquet P P A P
4 October 21, 2022 Alaska Federation of Natives P P P P
5 October 26, 2022 Alaska Public Media/Alaska's News Source Lori Townsend, Mike Ross P P P P

Endorsements

Nick Begich III (R)

State legislators

  • Ben Carpenter, state representative from the 29th district (2019–present)
  • John Coghill, former Majority Leader of the Alaska Senate (2013–2016) from District B (2009–2021) and former Majority Leader of the Alaska House of Representatives (2003–2006) from the 11th district (1999–2009)
  • Mike Cronk, state representative from the 6th district (2021–present)
  • Lynn Gattis, former state representative from the 9th district (2013–2017)
  • Roger Holland, state senator from District N (2021–present)
  • Shelley Hughes, Majority Leader of the Alaska Senate (2021–present) from District F (2017–present), and former state representative from the 11th district (2012–2017)
  • Kevin J. McCabe, state representative from the 8th district (2021–present)
  • Ken McCarty, state representative from the 13th district (2021–present)
  • Thomas McKay, state representative from the 24th district (2021–present)
  • Charisse Millett, former Minority Leader of the Alaska House of Representatives (2017–2019) from the 30th district (2009–2019)
  • Mike Shower, state senator from District E (2018–present)
  • Sarah Vance, state representative from the 31st district (2019–present)

Local officials

  • Dave Bronson, Mayor of Anchorage (2021–present)
  • Dan Sullivan, former Mayor of Anchorage (2009–2015)

Individuals

  • Jim Palin, former father-in-law of Sarah Palin

Organizations

  • Alaska Outdoor Council
  • Alaska Republican Party
  • Americans for Prosperity Alaska
  • Anchorage Young Republicans
  • Associated Builders and Contractors, Alaska Chapter
  • FreedomWorks for America
Chris Bye (L)

Organizations

  • Libertarian Party of Alaska
Sarah Palin (R)

Executive branch officials

U.S. representatives

  • Elise Stefanik, U.S. representative from New York's 21st congressional district (2015–present)

Organizations

  • Campaign for Working Families
  • Log Cabin Republicans
Al Gross (I) (withdrawn)

State officials

  • Tony Knowles, former governor of Alaska (1994–2002) and former mayor of Anchorage (1982–1987)
  • Fran Ulmer, former lieutenant governor of Alaska (1994–2002), former state representative from the 3rd district (1987–1994), and former mayor of Juneau (1983–1985)

State legislators

  • Hollis French, former state senator from District J (2003–2015)
  • Beth Kerttula, former Minority Leader of the Alaska House of Representatives (2007–2014) from the 3rd district (1999–2014)
  • Joe Paskvan, former state senator from District E (2009–2013)

Local officials

  • Sally Smith, former mayor of Juneau (2000–2003) and former state representative from the 20th district (1977–1983)

Organizations

  • 314 Action
Mary Peltola (D)

U.S. senators

  • Lisa Murkowski, U.S. senator from Alaska (Republican)

State legislators

  • Rick Halford, former President of the Alaska Senate (Republican)

Local officials

  • Santa Claus, North Pole city councillor (2015–2018, since 2019) and current mayor pro tem (Independent)
  • Christopher Constant, Anchorage Assembly member
  • Mike Milligan, former Kodiak Island Borough Assembly member, Green nominee for this district in 1992 and for lieutenant governor in 1998

Individuals

  • Al Gross, orthopedic surgeon, commercial fisherman, son of former Alaska Attorney General Avrum Gross, and Democratic-endorsed nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020 (Independent) (co-endorsement with Sweeney)
  • Emil Notti, engineer, former commissioner of the Alaska Department of Commerce, former chair of the Alaska Democratic Party, and nominee for Alaska's at-large congressional district in 1973

Labor unions

  • Alaska AFL–CIO
  • National Education Association

Organizations

  • Alaska Federation of Natives
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • Sealaska Corporation
Josh Revak (R) (withdrawn)

Individuals

  • Anne Garland Young, widow of former U.S. Representative Don Young
Tara Sweeney (R) (withdrawn)

Executive branch officials

  • Thomas J. Barrett, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation (2007–2009) and retired U.S. Coast Guard vice admiral

State officials

  • Mead Treadwell, former lieutenant governor of Alaska (2010–2014)

Individuals

  • Al Gross, orthopedic surgeon, commercial fisherman, son of former Alaska Attorney General Avrum Gross, and Democratic-endorsed nominee for U.S. Senate in 2020 (Independent) (co-endorsement with Peltola)

Organizations

  • ANCSA Regional Association
Declined to endorse
State legislators
  • Adam Wool, state representative

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
RCV
count
Mary
Peltola
(D)
Sarah
Palin
(R)
Nick
Begich
(R)
Chris
Bye
(L)
Undecided /
Not Ranked /
Other
Dittman Research November 2–3, 2022 400 (LV) ± 4.9%
1 48% 25% 23% 3% 1% U
1% O
2 49% 26% 25% Elim
3 56% 44% Elim Elim
Alaska Survey Research October 19–22, 2022 1,276 (LV) ± 3.0%
1 49% 26% 21% 5%
2 51% 27% 22% Elim
3 57% 43% Elim Elim
3* 56% Elim 44% Elim
Dittman Research October 4–8, 2022 411 (LV) ± 4.8%
1 45% 23% 28% 3%
2 46% 24% 30% Elim
3 52% Elim 48% Elim
Alaska Survey Research September 25–27, 2022 1,282 (LV) ± 3.0%
1 49% 23% 26% 2%
2 50% 24% 26% Elim
3 54% Elim 46% Elim
3* 56% 44% Elim Elim
Dittman Research September 6–14, 2022 394 (LV) ± 4.9%
1 50% 27% 20% 3% 1% U
1% O
2 51% 28% 21% Elim
3 58% 42% Elim Elim
Fabrizio Ward (R)/Impact Research (D) September 6–11, 2022 1,050 (LV) N/A 45% 30% 20% 2% 3% U
1 46% 31% 20% 2% 3% NR
2 47% 32% 21% Elim 4% NR
3 53% 47% Elim Elim 10% NR
Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered
Sample
size
Margin
of error
RCV
count
Nick
Begich
(R)
Sarah
Palin
(R)
Mary
Peltola
(D)
Tara
Sweeney
(R)
Undecided
Alaska Survey Research July 20–25, 2022 1,253 (LV) ± 3.0% 1 26% 27% 39% 8%
2 29% 29% 42% Elim
3 54% Elim 46% Elim
3* Elim 48% 53% Elim
Alaska Survey Research July 2–5, 2022 1,201 (LV) ± 2.9% 1 27% 27% 38% 8%
2 31% 29% 41% Elim
3 56% Elim 44% Elim

Results

2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district election
Party Candidate First choice Round 1 Round 2 Round 3
Votes % Transfer Votes % Transfer Votes % Transfer Votes %
Democratic Mary Peltola (incumbent) 128,553 48.77% +202 128,755 48.66% +1,031 129,786 49.22% +7,477 137,263 54.96%
Republican Sarah Palin 67,866 25.74% +464 68,330 25.82% +1,069 69,399 26.32% +43,072 112,471 45.04%
Republican Nick Begich III 61,513 23.33% +992 62,505 23.62% +1,994 64,499 24.46% -64,499 Eliminated
Libertarian Chris Bye 4,570 1.73% +429 4,999 1.89% -4,999 Eliminated
Write-in 1,108 0.42% -1,108 Eliminated
Total votes 263,610 264,589 263,684 249,734
Blank or inactive ballots 2,208 +905 3,113 +13,950 17,063
Democratic hold

See also

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