Peltola Redraws the Map for Democrats in Alaska
Peltola is easily the best-performing Democratic candidate since former Sen. Mark Begich (D). Mark Begich was the last Democrat to win a statewide election when he defeated the late Sen. Ted Stevens (R) in 2008, winning 47.77% of the vote. During a tough year for Democrats nationwide, Mark Begich was defeated in 2014 by now-Sen. Dan Sullivan (R), earning 45.83%.
Prior to 2008, a Democrat had not won statewide in Alaska since Gov. Tony Knowles (D) was reelected with 51.27% of the vote — the best performance of an Alaska Democrat since the discovery of oil in Prudhoe Bay turned Alaska blood red.
Peltola is poised to become the most successful Alaska Democrat in 20 years once all the votes are counted. Plenty have speculated about the secret to Peltola’s success. Peltola ran a near 100% positive campaign, has rural Alaska cred, and in many ways followed in Don Young’s footsteps helped fuel her popularity. She is also dripping with authenticity, something that proved effective nationwide.
But electorally, Peltola is redrawing the map for Alaska progressives to win statewide. Major population changes in the last decade as well as national polarization changed what areas candidates need to win.
https://thealaskacurrent.com/2022/11/15/peltola-redraws-the-map-for-democrats-in-alaska/
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