As Representative Mary Peltola, Democrat of Alaska, campaigns for the chance to serve a full term, she met her three opponents on Wednesday night for a debate where they argued about how to utilize the state’s resources and improve bipartisanship.
Ms. Peltola became the first Alaska Native woman elected to Congress this year when she prevailed over a raucous 48-candidate field vying to finish the remainder of Representative Don Young’s term after he died in March. Her campaign — centered on fish, freedom and family — has galvanized voters across the state, and it has given Democrats hope that they may retain the seat after Mr. Young, a Republican, held it for nearly half a century.
But to remain in Washington next year, she will have to overcome a rematch with her challengers — the former Gov. Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III, the conservative son of a well-known liberal Alaskan family, as well as Chris Bye, a libertarian. Under a new election system, voters will be able to rank their preferences in the general election, with those votes counted until one candidate has accumulated more than 50 percent of the tally.
The State of the 2022 Midterm Elections
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8.
In the debate, which was hosted by Alaska Public Media, Alaska’s News Source and KTOO, a local station, Ms. Peltola stressed how she had taken up several unfinished pieces of legislation that Mr. Young had backed. Pressed by Ms. Palin about how she would convince her colleagues and President Biden to support drilling in the state, Ms. Peltola said she had had conversations with the White House about moving forward with an oil drilling project in the North Slope of Alaska, known as Willow.
“If there was ever an argument to progress and get Willow going, the argument is present now with inflation and the costs that we’re paying for energy,” Ms. Peltola said.
Asked about the House committee investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and the subpoena for former President Donald J. Trump to testify before the panel, Ms. Peltola said she would “not make that judgment call” on whether he had committed a crime.
Answering the same question, Ms. Palin said “knowing President Trump as I do, he’s probably saying, ‘Bring it on, subpoena away.’” For his part, Mr. Begich argued that the committee investigation was being used by Democrats as a way to deflect concern about high inflation and the economy.
Mr. Begich, who has faced backlash from Mr. Young’s inner circle for challenging the former congressman before his death, pressed Ms. Peltola on her decision to hire aides who had worked for Mr. Young, criticizing the effectiveness and work ethic of the staff. (Several of Mr. Young’s former aides have also endorsed Ms. Peltola.)
Ms. Peltola appeared to be wearing a beaded bolo tie that belonged to Mr. Young, after his daughter gave it to her during the recent Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage. She defended her decision about hiring Mr. Young’s aides, saying, “I think it’s really important to have continuity.”
She added: “This isn’t about me. This is about Alaskans and our issue.”
She also raised her friendship with Ms. Palin, which stems from their days working together while Ms. Peltola was a state lawmaker, adding that it was important to demonstrate the ability to work across party lines both in the state and in Washington.
“This is the most important thing we can do as a sitting legislator, is work to heal the divisions in our country,” Ms. Peltola said.
