Alaska’s political landscape shifted dramatically this week as Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom announced her withdrawal from the state’s House race, following a third-place finish in the primary.
Though she had the backing of former President Donald Trump, Dahlstrom's exit clears the path for Nick Begich to become the top Republican contender against incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola in the November general election, as the Washington Examiner reports.
Dahlstrom’s decision to withdraw came swiftly after the results of the primary were tallied. Despite entering the race with hopes of providing better representation for Alaskans, her campaign failed to gain the traction needed to secure a spot as the leading Republican candidate.
The primary results placed Dahlstrom in a distant third, well behind Begich, who is now positioned as the GOP’s best hope to reclaim the seat currently held by Peltola, a Democrat. Dahlstrom’s decision to step aside was influenced by her commitment to ensuring a strong Republican challenge in the upcoming general election.
“I entered this race because Alaskans deserve better representation than what we have received from Mary Peltola in Washington,” Dahlstrom stated. “At this time, the best thing I can do to see that goal realized is to withdraw my name from the general election ballot and end my campaign.”
The race for Alaska’s sole House seat has been notably shaped by the state’s ranked choice voting system. This system, implemented to give voters more flexibility in their selections, has altered traditional campaigning strategies and the overall election dynamics.
Under ranked choice voting, voters rank their preferred candidates, with votes being reallocated if no candidate secures a majority of first-choice votes. This method played a crucial role in Mary Peltola’s historic victory last year, flipping Alaska’s House seat to the Democrats for the first time in 50 years. In the 2022 election cycle, Republican candidates Begich and former Gov. Sarah Palin failed to consolidate their support, resulting in internal GOP conflict and ultimately, Peltola’s victory. This time, with Dahlstrom’s withdrawal, Republicans aim to present a united front.
Begich, who finished second in the 2022 special and general elections, will once again face Peltola in November. This upcoming rematch is expected to be highly competitive, with Begich now standing as the clear Republican candidate following Dahlstrom’s exit.
Begich’s campaign has emphasized the need for strong conservative representation in Washington, D.C., and he has vowed to focus his efforts on defeating Peltola rather than engaging in divisive primary battles. Begich had previously pledged to step aside if he trailed Dahlstrom in the primary, a scenario that did not come to pass.
With Dahlstrom out of the race, Begich is likely to consolidate more of the Republican vote, although the general election will still feature multiple candidates. The ranked choice voting system will again be a key factor, as it allows voters to rank up to four candidates on the ballot.
Despite the narrowed Republican field, Begich faces significant challenges in the upcoming general election. Chief among these is Peltola’s substantial fundraising lead. As of July 31, Peltola had $2.8 million in cash on hand, far outpacing Begich’s $172,548.
Peltola has demonstrated strong fundraising capabilities throughout her time in office, having raised over $7.5 million in total compared to Begich’s $983,000. This financial advantage could prove crucial as the November election approaches.
With Dahlstrom’s withdrawal, Begich must now focus on building his campaign’s war chest and appealing to a broader electorate if he hopes to overcome Peltola’s significant financial edge. The general election in November will determine whether the Republicans can reclaim Alaska’s lone House seat or if Peltola will secure a full term after her groundbreaking victory in 2022.
