This is a developing story.
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom dropped out of the race for Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat on Friday, following a third-place finish in Tuesday’s primary, setting up a one-on-one general election matchup between incumbent Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican challenger Nick Begich III.
Dahlstrom’s withdrawal means Republicans will avoid their fears of repeating the outcome of the 2022 election, when two major Republican challengers — Begich and former Gov. Sarah Palin — split the opposing vote against Peltola. Alaska’s ranked choice voting means in theory Republican voters could check off both candidates on the ballot, but many opted not to do so in 2022.
Begich had stated he would withdraw from the general election if he finished third in the primary. Dahlstrom, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, declined to make the same pledge and stated Tuesday after the initial primary results were counted she intended to remain in the race.
She changed her decision in an announcement Friday.
“I entered this race because Alaskans deserve better representation than what we have received from Mary Peltola in Washington,” Dahlstrom said in a prepared statement. “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.”
A total of 12 U.S. House candidates were on the primary ballot, with the top four finishers advancing to the general election under Alaska’s open primary system, but only Peltola, Begich and Dahlstrom were considered major candidates — with none of the others getting even 1% of the primary vote.
As of Thursday afternoon Peltola had 50.36% of the statewide vote, Begich III 26.5% and Dahlstrom 19.96%. In fourth place is Republican Matt Salisbury with 0.6% and in fifth place (and thus would advance with Dahlstrom’s withdrawal) is Alaska Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe with 0.57%.
Begich, in a social media post, congratulated Dahlstrom for a “strong campaign.”
“Today we move forward unified in the effort to replace Mary Peltola, who has proven by her alignment with the left that she is not the moderate she claimed to be,” Begich wrote.
Alaska’s congressional race is among the most contested in the country as Republicans look to maintain their slim majority in the House. Peltola became the first Democrat elected to the seat in 50 years in 2022, following the unexpected death of longtime incumbent Don Young.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
