Palin, Begich Battle for Late Congressman’s Seat In Alaska Special General Election

Donald Trump-endorsed Sarah Palin, her GOP rival Nick Begich III, and Democrat Mary Peltola will go head-to-head in Alaska’s special general election on Aug. 16 to serve out the remaining months of late U.S. Rep. Don Young’s term until January.

All three partisan contenders are also on the ballot for the regular primary on Aug. 16 for the same seat for the next two years.

Though it sounds confusing, it reflects Alaska’s new non-partisan primary system in which all candidates appear on the ballot regardless of party affiliation.

In a 48-way special primary on June 11 following Young’s death in March—Palin, Begich, Peltola, and Al Gross, an Independent, were the top-four vote-getters in the election.

This allowed them to move on to the special general election and the winner of that election will serve out the remaining three months of Young’s term.

Dr. Al Gross (C)  pauses for a photo with supporters during a sign-waving along Seward Highway, on Election Day in Anchorage, Alaska, on Nov. 3, 2020. Gross dropped out of the race to fill the unexpired term of U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) in the regular primary election on Aug. 16, 2022. (Michael Dinneen/AP Photo)

The ballot for the primary election features 22 candidates, and the top four will advance to the Nov. 8 general election for a two-year seat in the U.S. House.

Gross, the third top vote-getter in the June 11 special primary, has since dropped out of the race, endorsing Peltola and Republican contender Tara Sweeney in the non-partisan “Pick One” regular primary on Aug. 16.

“A Non-Partisan Pick One primary is used to determine the top four vote-getters that will advance to the general election, regardless of political affiliation,” according to the Alaska Division of Elections.

Under the state’s laws a primary election “does

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases