This is a developing story.
Former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola is likely to run for governor of Alaska in 2026 after the Bethel Democrat lost her seat to Republican Nick Begich III last November, The Cook Political Report reported Thursday.
Peltola, who served one full term in the House and a decade in the Alaska Legislature, would join a likely crowded field in an open gubernatorial race since Republican Mike Dunleavy will be stepping down after two consecutive terms, unless he departs early to accept a position in the Trump administration or for other reasons.
Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, a Republican who finished behind Begich in the U.S. House primary last summer, would fill in for Dunleavy and is among those mentioned as a likely candidate in 2026.
Attempts to reach Peltola on Thursday were not immediately successful.
Begich and U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican who’s held that seat since 2015, are both on the ballot in 2026. However, the analysis published Thursday by The Cook Political Report puts “Begich in (the) driver’s seat” and a separate rating categorizes Sullivan’s seat as “solid Republican.”
Furthermore, Peltola as a Democrat returning to Washington, D.C., would have Republican Donald Trump rather than Democrat Joe Biden in the White House, and both chambers of Congress are currently under Republican control. The Alaska Legislature currently has bipartisan majority caucuses in the House and Senate that consist of a majority of Democrats among their members.
A survey of 1,816 Alaskans 18 and older conducted Jan. 11-13 showed 22% of respondents stating Peltola should run for governor in 2026, 16% said she should seek Sullivan’s Senate seat, 36% said she should not seek office and 26% said they were not sure, said Ivan Moore, owner of Alaska Survey Research.
Moore said he also conducted a gubernatorial race survey last summer that excluded Peltola. Candidates included were Dahlstrom, state Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel (R-Anchorage), former state Senate President and current Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Peter Micciche (R-Soldotna), former state Sen. Click Bishop (R-Fairbanks), former state Sen. Tom Begich (D-Anchorage and uncle of Nick Begich), and former independent Lt. Gov. Valerie Nurr’araaluk Davidson.
State Democratic leaders gathered in Juneau for three days starting last Friday for meetings and fundraisers involving the Alaska Democratic Party State Central Committee and affiliated organizations such as the Tongass Democrats.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
