### Nick Begich III Takes Lead in Alaska's U.S. House Race

Nick Begich III, a Republican challenger, has surged ahead in the contest for Alaska's U.S. House seat. As of early Wednesday, with approximately 93% of precincts reporting, Begich held an 11,000 vote lead over the incumbent Democratic Congresswoman, Mary Peltola. The initial count gave Begich 49.8% of the vote compared to Peltola's 45.4%. Only first-choice ballots have been counted thus far, and a ranked-choice voting process scheduled for November 20 will decide the final outcome if no candidate exceeds 50% of the vote.

Begich's election night celebration took place at a hotel in downtown Anchorage, where supporters also cheered national results showing Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump—who has endorsed Begich—winning crucial battleground states. Addressing his followers, Begich emphasized Alaska's critical role in national politics. "The pathway to America's prosperity starts in Alaska, but it's not good enough to know that," he stated. "We got to talk about it down in D.C. We got to be down in D.C. We only have one person in the House, and we need Alaska's voice in the House."

Gretchen Stoddard, a Begich supporter at the event, cited her desire for a Republican majority in the U.S. House as her primary reason for voting for him. "I think it's good for our state," Stoddard noted. "I think it's good for my child, you know, the economy."

Begich, an entrepreneur residing in Chugiak, hails from a notable Democratic family and stands to win the seat once held by his grandfather, Congressman Nick Begich, D-Alaska, who disappeared during a campaign flight to Juneau in 1972.

Meanwhile, Peltola's camp also gathered in downtown Anchorage, monitoring early returns as well as national election results. Addressing her supporters, Peltola called for patience, saying, "We're not going to know results until, like, three days before Thanksgiving." She urged everyone to stay united, adding, "We're all in this together. We're all Americans. We're all pulling for the same things. We all love the same things."

Jane Angvik, a Democratic stalwart, expressed hope for Peltola's victory and confidence in her ability to work with any presidential administration. Peltola made history as the first Alaska Native person elected to Congress when she won a special election in 2022, defeating Begich and Republican Sarah Palin. She repeated this success in the 2022 regular election. Tragically, Peltola's husband, Eugene "Buzzy" Peltola, died in a plane crash in September 2023.

This year, other Republican contenders stepped aside to clear the way for Begich, who has benefited from substantial national funding. Over $28 million has been spent by political groups on both sides in this key race, one of about two dozen House contests nationwide deemed toss-ups.

Despite the heavy spending, Peltola's initial 6-to-1 fundraising advantage has been effectively neutralized. She raised around $12 million for her campaign, while Begich's campaign raised approximately $2 million. Early returns showed John Wayne Howe of the Alaska Independence Party garnering about 3.9% of the vote, with Democrat Eric Hafner, a federal inmate with no direct ties to Alaska, receiving 1%.