Mary Peltola

Mary Sattler Peltola (Yup'ik: Akalleq; born August 31, 1973) is an American Democratic politician. Peltola was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alaska's at-large congressional district from 2022 to 2025. She is the first woman to represent Alaska in the U.S. House and the first Alaska Native in congress. She lost her re-election in 2024 to Republican Nick Begich III. She is currently running for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 election, against Republican Senator Dan Sullivan.

Early life
Peltola was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 31, 1973. Her Yup'ik name is Akalleq (). Peltola is Yup'ik from Western Alaska. 

Peltola studied elementary education at the University of Northern Colorado from 1991 to 1993 and later took courses at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Alaska Southeast, and University of Alaska Anchorage from 1994 to 1998.

Political career
Before, she was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009. 

Peltola was a candidate for the United States House of Representatives for Alaska's at-large congressional district in the 2022 special election to fill in the vacancy of Don Young and in the November 2022 general election. She won the election on August 31, 2022, defeating former Governor Sarah Palin.

Peltola is the first Alaska Native member of Congress and the only Russian Orthodox member of Congress.

Peltola lost her re-election in November 2024 to Republican Nick Begich III.

In early January 2026, it was reported that Peltola was expected to run for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 election. She officially announced her candidacy on January 12, 2026.

Personal life
She has four biological children and three stepchildren.

Her third husband, Eugene "Buzzy" Peltola Jr., was Alaska director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He died in September 2023 after being in a plane crash.

References

Other websites

 Representative Mary Sattler Peltola  official U.S. House website
 Mary Peltola for Alaska campaign website

Category:1973 births
Category:Living people
Category:State legislators of the United States
Category:Politicians from Anchorage, Alaska
Category:Democratic Party (United States) politicians
Category:United States representatives from Alaska
Category:21st-century American politicians