Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, a Republican supported by former President Donald Trump, has decided to step down from the competition for Alaska’s only seat in the U.S. House following her third-place finish in the recent primary. This move leaves Republican Nick Begich, who came in second, as the primary opponent to Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, making history as the first Alaska Native to hold a seat in Congress.
The trio, including Peltola, Begich, and Dahlstrom, were among the notable candidates among a group of 12 vying for the seat in Alaska’s primary election. In Alaska’s open primary format, voters were required to choose one candidate, and the top four vote-getters, regardless of party, would progress to the ranked-choice general election.
Initial voting results show Peltola leading in the vote count, trailed by Begich and then Dahlstrom. It is still too early to determine who the fourth candidate advancing to the general election will be.