Photos: A winner is declared, finally, in Alaska’s special election for U.S. House

Democrat Mary Peltola held on to her lead in ranked vote tabulation to defeat former Gov. Sarah Palin and businessman Nick Begich III, both Republicans.

By Anchorage Daily News
Updated: September 1, 2022 Published: September 1, 2022

Mary Peltola, right, reacts to news of her win in the special election for Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday. From left are Peltola’s husband, Gene Peltola Jr., deputy campaign manager Hector Jimenez, stepdaughter Kaeli Peltola and campaign manager Anton McParland. (Marc Lester / ADN)

On Wednesday, Mary Peltola was named the winner of Alaska’s special U.S. House race, weeks after Alaskans cast their votes in the Aug. 16 election. The Democrat from Bethel won the most first-choice votes, then held her lead over Republican former Gov. Sarah Palin in the next round of ranked vote tabulation after third-place GOP candidate Nick Begich III was eliminated.

Palin, Peltola and Begich were among the candidates who participated in a U.S. House forum hosted by the Alaska Oil and Gas Association on Wednesday at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage. When it ended, both Peltola and Palin went to their campaign offices to watch as results were announced.

Here’s a look at how the day unfolded as election results were released.

[Video: What Mary Peltola had to say after results showed she won Alaska’s U.S. House election]

Candidate Mary Peltola answers questions from a reporter prior to the forum at the Alaska Oil and Gas Association annual conference. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Candidate Sarah Palin hugs her competition, Mary Peltola, before the forum begins at the Alaska Oil and Gas Association annual conference at the Dena’ina Convention Center. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Sarah Palin and Mary Peltola speak before the forum begins. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Sarah Palin, left, and Mary Peltola answer lightning-round questions. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

Mary Peltola, left, talks with former U.S. House candidate Tara Sweeney. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Mary Peltola, second from left, waits for an elevator after a U.S. House candidate forum with Sarah Palin, who was escorted by Ron Duguay. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

Former Governor Bill Walker, second from left, and former Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell, right, watch a livestream of the ranked choice vote tabulation. (Loren Holmes / ADN)

Brian Jackson, elections program manager for the Alaska Division of Elections, right, controls the final count from his computer as media and other spectators watch in Juneau, Alaska, on Wednesday, August 31, 2022, in the special election for Alaska's seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Photo by Michael Penn for the Anchorage Daily News)

Mary Peltola dances for a moment after results are announced for the special election in which she won the race for Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. (Marc Lester / Anchorage Daily News)

U.S. House candidate Sarah Palin waved to supporters as she arrived at her campaign headquarters in South Anchorage. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Former state senator Jerry Ward, right, speaks with Sarah Palin supporters at her campaign headquarters. (Bill Roth / ADN)

U.S. House candidate Sarah Palin spoke to the media at her campaign headquarters in South Anchorage after the rank choice ballots were counted. (Bill Roth / ADN)

U.S. House candidate Sarah Palin's father Chuck Heath, left, watched the election results with supporters at the Palin campaign headquarters in South Anchorage. (Bill Roth / ADN)

U.S. House candidate Sarah Palin spoke to the media at her campaign headquarters. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Mary Peltola is congratulated by her husband Gene Peltola Jr., left. Mary Peltola won the special election for Alaska’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives on August 31, 2022. (Marc Lester / Anchorage Daily News)

2022 Alaska congressional elections