Dahlstrom Withdraws from Alaska House Race, Leaving Begich as Main Challenger to Peltola

Nancy Dahlstrom, a Republican candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has officially withdrawn from the race for Alaska’s U.S. House seat after finishing third in the recent primary. This decision positions Nick Begich, who secured second place, as the primary challenger to Democratic Representative Mary Peltola, the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress. Dahlstrom expressed her belief that Alaskans deserve better representation than what Peltola has provided, emphasizing her commitment to the race. The upcoming general election is anticipated to be fiercely competitive, with the Republican Party aiming to reclaim the seat previously held by long-serving Congressman Don Young, who passed away in 2022. Peltola won the seat in both special and regular elections last year, and the GOP is hopeful that voters will favor their candidate in the November election. Begich criticized Peltola's alignment with leftist policies, asserting that she is not the moderate she claims to be. While Begich had indicated he would withdraw if he finished behind Dahlstrom, she did not reciprocate that commitment. Instead, she plans to consult with Begich, Alaska's Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy, and state party leaders to strategize for a conservative victory. The National Republican Congressional Committee has shifted its support to Begich, calling him a strong candidate. Under Alaska's election laws, if a top candidate withdraws within 64 days of the general election, the fifth-place finisher may advance. Currently, little-known Republican Matthew Salisbury and Alaska Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe are poised to move forward, each receiving less than 1% of the vote.