Candidate for U.S. Senate
Mary Peltola
Democratic
Mary Peltola is a Democrat who represented Alaska in the U.S. House from 2022 to 2025 and earlier served a decade in the Alaska House. She is Yup'ik and was the first Alaska Native elected to Congress. Her campaign centers on fisheries and trawl bycatch, the cost of living and health care, under the slogan "fish, family, freedom."
- Current or most recent role
- Former U.S. Representative for Alaska (2022–2025)
- Hometown
- Bethel; now lives in Anchorage
- Campaign website
- marypeltola.com
Why they say you should vote for them
The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.
- Says she is running as a fisherman and military mom to lower gas, grocery, health care and housing costs.[1]
- Says she would restore Alaska fisheries, ban factory trawling and reduce bycatch.[1],[3]
- Says she would be an independent voice for Alaska who listens to Alaskans rather than "DC insiders."[1]
- Invokes the Alaska-first tradition of former Sen. Ted Stevens and her slogan "fish, family, freedom."[2]
Background
- U.S. Representative, Alaska at-large, U.S. House of Representatives · 2022–2025[1],[2]
- Executive Director, Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission[1]
- Member, Bethel City Council · 2011–2013[1]
- State Representative, Alaska House of Representatives · 1999–2009[1]
Education
- Attended (no degree listed), University of Northern Colorado; University of Alaska Fairbanks, Southeast and Anchorage[1]
Where they stand
- FisheriesSupports a crackdown on trawl bycatch of salmon and other species and says federal fishery managers do not adequately weigh subsistence users and salmon.[1],[3]
- Energy & EnvironmentSays oil and gas drilling in ANWR is allowed under federal law, and says her work led the Biden administration to approve the Willow project.[4]
- InfrastructureSupports codifying the Supreme Court's 2025 NEPA ruling to shorten permitting litigation, and says she would fund the Marine Highway System and Railbelt grid.[1],[4]
- Health CareSays she would push to reverse federal health care cuts and lower health care costs.[1]
- AbortionSupports abortion rights and says she would protect Alaskans' right to privacy.[1],[5]
- GunsSays she supports gun rights and owns "176 long guns"; lists NRA membership.[1],[5]
- Elections & DemocracySupports term limits for members of Congress.[5]
- Foreign PolicySays the war with Iran is raising gas and diesel prices in Alaska.[3]
Voting record
A selection of notable recorded votes. Not a complete record.
| Measure | Vote | Date |
|---|---|---|
| H.R. 8035 – Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024 Emergency military and economic aid for Ukraine (the House version of the aid later combined in H.R. 815). (U.S. House) | Yes[6] | Apr 20, 2024 |
| H.R. 3746 – Fiscal Responsibility Act Suspended the federal debt limit and set caps on discretionary spending. (U.S. House) | Yes[7] | May 31, 2023 |
| H.R. 2 – Secure the Border Act of 2023 House Republican immigration bill to resume border wall construction and change asylum rules. (U.S. House) | No[8] | May 11, 2023 |
| H.R. 1 – Lower Energy Costs Act House Republican bill to expand oil, gas and mineral leasing and shorten energy permitting reviews. (U.S. House) | No[9] | Mar 30, 2023 |
| H.R. 2617 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 Full-year federal government funding bill for fiscal year 2023. (U.S. House) | Yes[10] | Dec 23, 2022 |
| H.R. 8404 – Respect for Marriage Act Repealed the Defense of Marriage Act and required federal and interstate recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages. (U.S. House) | Yes[11] | Dec 8, 2022 |
In their words
Sources
- Official candidate statement: Mary Peltola, United States Senator, Alaska Division of Elections
- Mary Peltola enters Alaska U.S. Senate race, Alaska Public Media, January 12, 2026
- Peltola and Sullivan confront trawl bycatch, and each other, at Kodiak fisheries debate, Alaska Public Media, September 14, 2026
- Sullivan, Peltola debate energy issues in closely watched U.S. Senate race, Anchorage Daily News, August 28, 2026
- Democratic former Rep. Mary Peltola launches Alaska Senate run, NBC News, January 12, 2026
- Roll Call 151, 2024 (H.R. 8035), Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, April 20, 2024
- Roll Call 243, 2023 (H.R. 3746), Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, May 31, 2023
- Roll Call 209, 2023 (H.R. 2), Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, May 11, 2023
- Roll Call 182, 2023 (H.R. 1), Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, March 30, 2023
- Roll Call 549, 2022 (H.R. 2617), Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, December 23, 2022
- Roll Call 513, 2022 (H.R. 8404), Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives, December 8, 2022
Photo: Official portrait, U.S. House of Representatives (Public domain (U.S. government work)).
Last reviewed October 10, 2026. Spot an error or something missing? Report a correction.
Also running for U.S. Senate
- Gerald L. Heikes (Republican)
- Dan S. Sullivan (Republican)
- Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. (Republican)