James Brooks, Alaska Beacon
Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich after Trump’s prior pick, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, withdrew from the race for Alaska’s lone House seat.
“America First Patriot Nick Begich won a primary against a Strong and Respected Candidate in Alaska, a State I love and won by large margins in 2016 and 2020. That Candidate has now withdrawn in favor of Nick, so this time, for the first time in years, we will have a REPUBLICAN against a Democrat – The Republican, Nick Begich, is outstanding, and he will win!” Trump said in a post on social media.
Begich is the leading challenger to incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska. Also competing in Alaska’s November general election are John Wayne Howe of the Alaskan Independence Party and Eric Hafner, a Democrat imprisoned in New York state.
Begich, via a prepared statement, thanked Trump for his endorsement and said there is a “clear difference” between Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and that only Trump has “a pro-Alaska agenda and a record of supporting Alaskan resource development.”
In a jibe toward Peltola, who has been equivocal in her willingness to support Harris, Begich said, “Some candidates in this race don’t want to tell Alaskans who they support for President – but Alaskans deserve transparency from their representative in Congress. … I am deeply honored to have his support in this crucial race.”
Two years ago, Trump endorsed Republican former Gov. Sarah Palin in her unsuccessful U.S. House race against Peltola. In June, when Trump endorsed Dahlstrom, he claimed that Begich “has Democratic tendencies” and accused him of throwing the 2022 race to Peltola.
Begich, a longtime Republican, is from a prominent family that includes several Democratic politicians.
Despite Trump’s endorsement, Dahlstrom finished 6 percentage points behind Begich in this year’s primary election, a tally that encouraged her decision to withdraw.
Election Day is Nov. 5, but some votes may be cast as soon as this weekend, as the Alaska Division of Elections begins mailing about 3,500 ballots to military and international voters.