Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin will be advancing to the primary election to fill the US House of Representatives seat formerly held by the late Rep. Don Young. Alaska held a special primary on June 11th to narrow the congested 48-candidate race, which even included an “independent, progressive, democratic socialist” called Santa Claus.
The leading 4 candidates, regardless of party, will proceed to a special election in August due to Alaska’s open primary and ranked-choice system. The winner will fill Rep. Young’s seat for the rest of his term, which ends in January.
In addition to Palin, Republican Nick Begich and independent Al Gross likewise acquired adequate votes to advance.
The vote count is not yet finished, Palin was ahead of the other prospects by a landslide.
NBC News reports, “Palin received 30 percent of the vote with (72 percent in), while Begich had 19 percent and Gross had 13 percent. As of 7:00 a.m. ET on Monday, the next highest vote-getters included former Democratic state Rep. Mary Peltola, who has 8 percent; Republican Tara Sweeney, an Alaska Native woman who served as assistant secretary for Indian Affairs and was Young’s campaign co-chair, who has 5 percent; and a Democratic socialist named Santa Claus who also has 5 percent.”
Palin has been enthusiastically backed by President Donald Trump.
On April 4, President Trump issued a statement saying “wonderful patriot Sarah Palin of Alaska has just announced she is running for Congress, and that means there will be a true America first fighter on the ballot to replace the late and legendary Congressman Don Young.”
Trump continued to say that Palin is “tough and smart and will never back down, and I am proud to give her my Complete and Total Endorsement,” and that he offered his encouragement “all Republicans to unite behind this wonderful person and her campaign to put America First.”
NEW!
President Donald J. Trump announces his endorsement of Sarah Palin pic.twitter.com/9y0a39htCj
— Liz Harrington (@realLizUSA) April 4, 2022
“Sarah shocked many when she endorsed me very early in 2016, and we won big,” the statement continued. “Now, it’s my turn!”
Trump likewise raised Palin’s run for Vice President on a ticket with the late John McCain 14 years earlier, composing that she “lifted the McCain presidential campaign out of the dumps despite the fact that she had to endure some very evil, stupid, and jealous people within the campaign herself.”
Palin revealed her campaign in a Facebook post in April.
“Public service is a calling, and I would be honored to represent the men and women of Alaska in Congress, just as Rep. Young did for 49 years. I realize that I have very big shoes to fill, and I plan to honor Rep. Young’s legacy by offering myself up in the name of service to the state he loved and fought for, because I share that passion for Alaska and the United States of America,” Palin continued.
Palin acted as Governor of Alaska from 2006 through 2009.
Rep. Young died in March. The 88-year-old was the longest-serving member of Congress.
The special election is scheduled to happen on August 16.
H/T Timcast
