Nancy Dahlstrom, Alaska’s Lt. Governor and a Republican endorsed by Donald Trump has withdrawn from the race for the state’s U.S. House seat after finishing third in the recent primary. This move shifts the focus to Nick Begich, who finished second, as the primary challenger to incumbent Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola. Peltola is notable for being the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress.
Dahlstrom cited her belief that Alaskans deserve better representation than what she claims they have received from Peltola. Her decision to withdraw was aimed at consolidating support for a single Republican candidate to improve chances in the general election. This strategic move comes in the wake of a highly competitive primary where Dahlstrom, Peltola, and Begich were the leading candidates among the twelve.
Nancy Dahlstrom Withdraws from Alaska U.S. House Race, Shifting Focus to Nick Begich for Republican Challenge
In the primary, Peltola led the vote count, with Begich in second place and Dahlstrom in third. The fourth place in the primary was still too close to call. Under Alaska’s open primary system, the top four vote-getters advance to a ranked-choice general election, regardless of party affiliation. This system allows voters a broader selection in the initial round of voting.
Begich, who had previously run for the seat in 2022, received backing from various local Republican groups. He congratulated Dahlstrom for her campaign and expressed his commitment to uniting efforts to challenge Peltola. Although Dahlstrom had not made a public commitment to withdraw if Begich finished behind her, she planned to consult with key Republican figures to strategize for the general election.
With Dahlstrom’s withdrawal occurring 74 days before the general election, there could be changes in the list of candidates. Under state law, if any of the top four candidates withdraw or are disqualified, the fifth-place finisher could advance to the general election. Currently, Matthew Salisbury and John Wayne Howe are also in contention but have minimal support.
