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Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola stops in Juneau during reelection campaign launch

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2 years ago

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Alaska Rep. Mary Peltola stops in Juneau during reelection campaign launch


U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola gives a speech at a meet and greet in Juneau on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. (Clarise Larson/KTOO)

Alaska Congresswoman Mary Peltola was in Juneau this weekend for a meet-and-greet with voters. It was the last stop on a six-day tour to kick off her reelection campaign. 

Juneau Democratic Sen. Jesse Kiehl introduced Peltola to a crowded top floor of the Crystal Saloon. 

“She has stood up for the environment and the economy,” he said. “She is pro-jobs, pro-family, pro-freedom and pro-fish.”

“Fish, family, freedom” has been Peltola’s campaign slogan since 2022, when she won a special election to fill the remainder of Congressman Don Young’s term. That November, she was reelected for a full term.

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Peltola said she and the rest of the Alaska delegation – Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan – have accomplished a lot in the last year. She pointed to an executive order barring Russia from selling seafood to U.S. markets after processing it through other countries.

“That impacts fishermen throughout Southeast Alaska and throughout Alaska,” she told attendees. “After 10 years of the delegation pushing that executive order, we got it through a few weeks ago.”

Juneau resident Karen Smith, a former troller and longline fisher, said fish is a top priority for her.

“I’m glad she’s out protecting one of our mainstays here,” Smith said. “If you’ve eaten any other fish anywhere else, it’s not as good as ours.”

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola gives a speech at a meet and greet in Juneau on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. (Clarise Larson/KTOO)

Peltola is a Democrat, but she’s more in line with the Republican Party on issues like Arctic drilling and even gun control. In an interview, she said one of her biggest accomplishments has been advancing the Willow oil project.

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“I am proud of the fact that I helped bring it across the finish line,” she said. “I was the one who worked with the leadership in my caucus to really insist that Joe Biden meet with us.”

For Juneau resident Kevin Maier, Peltola’s bipartisanship is a selling point. He said voting across party lines isn’t as surprising in Alaska as it might be in the Lower 48.

“She is actually trying to solve problems, not just trying to yell at people, and that requires reaching across the aisle,” he said. “It’s cool that she can have positions that are different than mine but I can still be all in for her.”

Alyson Kenney attends U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s meet and greet in Juneau on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. (Clarise Larson/KTOO)

University of Alaska Southeast sophomore Alyson Kenney is studying environmental resources. This will be the first election she can vote in, and she said she was excited about Peltola’s advocacy for fish conservation. But she was surprised to learn about Peltola’s support of the Willow project in her opening remarks.

“I didn’t know she did until she just was speaking positively about it. That’s definitely something that’s a little iffy,” Kenney said. “I’ll have to do more research on that.”

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Peltola’s challengers include Republican Nick Begich. He finished third in both 2022 races behind Peltola and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. 

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, another Republican, is also running for the U.S. House seat. Her campaign is backed by a fundraising committee affiliated with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson.



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Alaska

National Native helpline for domestic violence and sexual assault to open Alaska-specific service

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7 hours ago

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January 7, 2026

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National Native helpline for domestic violence and sexual assault to open Alaska-specific service


A national support line for Native survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault has begun work to launch an Alaska-specific service. Strong Hearts Native Helpline is a Native-led nonprofit that offers 24-hour, seven-day-a-week support for anonymous and confidential calls from people who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault. The line is staffed by Native […]



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Alaska

Dozens of vehicle accidents reported, Anchorage after-school activities canceled, as snowfall buries Southcentral Alaska

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1 day ago

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January 6, 2026

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Dozens of vehicle accidents reported, Anchorage after-school activities canceled, as snowfall buries Southcentral Alaska


ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Up to a foot of snow has fallen in areas across Southcentral as of Tuesday, with more expected into Wednesday morning.

All sports and after-school activities — except high school basketball and hockey activities — were canceled Tuesday for the Anchorage School District. The decision was made to allow crews to clear school parking lots and manage traffic for snow removal, district officials said.

“These efforts are critical to ensuring schools can safely remain open [Wednesday],” ASD said in a statement.

The Anchorage Police Department’s accident count for the past two days shows there have been 55 car accidents since Monday, as of 9:45 a.m. Tuesday. In addition, there have been 86 vehicles in distress reported by the department.

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Snow measuring up to 17 inches deep in Anchorage, Alaska, on Jan. 6, 2026.(Alaska’s News Source)

The snowfall — which has brought up to 13 inches along areas of Turnagain Arm and 12 inches in Wasilla — is expected to continue Tuesday, according to latest forecast models. Numerous winter weather alerts are in effect, and inland areas of Southcentral could see winds up to 25 mph, with coastal areas potentially seeing winds over 45 mph.

Up to a foot or more of snow has fallen across Southcentral Alaska, with more snow expected...
Up to a foot or more of snow has fallen across Southcentral Alaska, with more snow expected through the day.(Alaska’s News Source)

Some areas of Southcentral could see more than 20 inches of snowfall by Wednesday, with the Anchorage and Eagle River Hillsides, as well as the foothills of the Talkeetna Mountain, among the areas seeing the most snowfall.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com

Copyright 2026 KTUU. All rights reserved.



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Yundt Served: Formal Charges Submitted to Alaska Republican Party, Asks for Party Sanction and Censure of Senator Rob Yundt

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2 days ago

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January 6, 2026

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Yundt Served: Formal Charges Submitted to Alaska Republican Party, Asks for Party Sanction and Censure of Senator Rob Yundt


Sen. Rob Yundt

On January 3, 2026, Districts 27 and 28 of the Alaska Republican Party received formal charges against Senator Rob Yundt pursuant to Article VII of the Alaska Republican Party Rules.

According to the Alaska Republican Party Rules: “Any candidate or elected official may be sanctioned or censured for any of the following
reasons:
(a) Failure to follow the Party Platform.
(b) Engagement in any activities prohibited by or contrary to these rules or RNC Rules.
(c) Failure to carry out or perform the duties of their office.
(d) Engaging in prohibited discrimination.
(e) Forming a majority caucus in which non-Republicans are at least 1/3 or more of the
coalition.
(f) Engaging in other activities that may be reasonably assessed as bringing dishonor to
the ARP, such as commission of a serious crime.”

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Party Rules require the signatures of at least 3 registered Republican constituents for official charges to be filed. The formal charges were signed by registered Republican voters and District N constitutions Jerad McClure, Thomas W. Oels, Janice M. Norman, and Manda Gershon.

Yundt is charged with “failure to adhere and uphold the Alaska Republican Party Platform” and “engaging in conduct contrary to the principles and priorities of the Alaska Republican Party Rules.” The constituents request: “Senator Rob Yundt be provided proper notice of the charges and a full and fair opportunity to respond; and that, upon a finding by the required two-thirds (2/3) vote of the District Committees that the charges are valid, the Committees impose the maximum sanctions authorized under Article VII.”

If the Party finds Yundt guilty of the charges, Yundt may be disciplined with formal censure by the Alaska Republican Party, declaration of ineligibility for Party endorsement, withdrawal of political support, prohibition from participating in certain Party activities, and official and public declaration that Yundt’s conduct and voting record contradict the Party’s values and priorities.

Reasons for the charges are based on Yundt’s active support of House Bill 57, Senate Bill 113, and Senate Bill 92. Constituents who filed the charges argue that HB 57 opposes the Alaska Republican Party Platform by “expanding government surveillance and dramatically increasing education spending;” that SB 113 opposes the Party’s Platform by “impos[ing] new tax burdens on Alaskan consumers and small businesses;” and that SB 92 opposes the Party by “proposing a targeted 9.2% tax on major private-sector energy producer supplying natural gas to Southcentral Alaska.” Although the filed charges state that SB 92 proposes a 9.2% tax, the bill actually proposes a 9.4% tax on income from oil and gas production and transportation.

Many Alaskan conservatives have expressed frustration with Senator Yundt’s legislative decisions. Some, like Marcy Sowers, consider Yundt more like “a tax-loving social justice warrior” than a conservative.

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