By AlaskaWatchman.com

Kelly Tshibaka

Many Alaskans have wondered what’s next for Kelly Tshibaka who recently lost a hard-fought battle to unseat U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski.

Tshibaka gained national attention as a strong, conservative, pro-life candidate. Last summer former President Donald Trump even traveled to Alaska to campaign on her behalf.

After losing in November, however, Tshibaka has provided few details about what she’s planning next. She does, however, post regularly on her Kelly for Alaska Facebook page, and on Jan. 4, hinted at what might be in store.

Tshibaka posted a link to a Jan. 2 Juneau Empire column by Mark Sabbatini, which offers predictions about the big stories that might break in 2023.

“Check out this Juneau Empire column about biggest stories expected in 2023, including ‘The only statewide race next year is sure to be a scorcher…’ at the bottom of the article,” Tshibaka wrote to her followers.

Tshibaka highlighted a section of Sabbatini’s column entitled, “Who declares for 2024.”

“The only statewide race next year is sure to be a scorcher as Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola will be facing what’s typically a career-determining campaign for a second full term, likely against any number of the state’s prominent Republicans who want to reclaim the seat their party held for the 50 years prior to her win,” Sabbatini wrote. “She’ll no longer be the cheerful relatively little-known underdog, but an incumbent with a record as a back-bench minority member in a chamber likely to spend most of its time trying to make her party look as bad as possible. Among others, Kelly Tshibaka and Nick Begich III are seen as strong contenders, according to pundits and pollsters weighing in after last year’s elections.”

Peltola defeated Republicans Sarah Palin and Nick Begich in the Nov. 8 election, but only earned 48.7% of the vote before ultimately prevailing in the ranked-choice runoff.

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Is Kelly Tshibaka planning to challenge Mary Peltola’s U.S. House seat?

Joel Davidson
Joel is Editor-in-Chief of the Alaska Watchman. Joel is an award winning journalist and has been reporting for over 24 years, He is a proud father of 8 children, and lives in Palmer, Alaska.


32 Comments

  • Lobo says:

    I certainly hope she challenges her, and can overcome the “Rigged Choice Vote” system.. In a honest vote process, I believe she can defeat her.

    • Friend of Humanity says:

      I agree. I would vote for Tshibaka. Begich III is still out of the question because he has too many investments and past voting/support records that show that he is not opposed to a demoncratic way of life.

  • Neil DeWitt says:

    I think Governor Dunleavy should do whatever he can to do way with the rigged choice voting. The Mat Valley people did. I say put it on the ballot again and let’s see where it goes again. It’s bad enough Kelly beat Lisa on the first ballot but lost because of rigged choice voting that Lisa brought to Alaska. She knew her time was at an end if she didn’t do something. This rigged choice voting was it, and it worked for Lisa to retain. Another thing. if a candidate can’t win on their own merits why do we want them in that office? Also this outside money should be outlawed. Why are we buying candidates into office? 99% of the junk mail we get during election time is from candidates. How about a few 3-5 tops the candidates face off and tell about themselves. That’s it no more. Maybe two hours because one isn’t enough. Maybe first hour you talk about you, and second hour you attack your opponents. Let’s try this. It sounds better, and we don’t get burned out listening to all the b.s. for months.

    • uio says:

      THe governor doesn’t have the authority to do anything about rigged choice voting. That’s up to our legislators.

    • Sally Duncan says:

      unless RCV is repealed, Republicans (who do not play that game well until they learn to) will lose every time. The races this last election, statewide, included NO democrats running against each other. While those races that included republicans running against each other most were won by democrats or by those saying they were republicans, but really weren’t. The biggest race in the state that was actually won by a REAL conservative republican was Frank Tomaszewski. NO dems ran against each other! Repeat that line – NO dems ran against each other!! Learn to organize, learn to play or lose.

      • Friend of Humanity says:

        That is why the Alaskan Republican party needs to starting telling candidates – one candidate – and one only, as per the People’s choice. That crap that happened for the 2022 congressional seat between Palin and Begich III could have been prevented; but the Alaska Republican party must have had an agenda in mind by letting those two run against each other. A Republican would have won that seat IF the Party would have put their foot down. Who runs the pony show?

  • Mayo says:

    Tshibaka has that stink of grift on her. And ego and arrogance. Not a serious player except in her own advancement.

    • Lobo says:

      If you have two choices… Tshibaka, or Peltola.. No one else is campaigning… Which one is your first choice ?

      • Friend of Humanity says:

        Mayo is a troll, so he naturally is going to say Peltola!

      • Reggie Taylor says:

        “…….No one else is campaigning…….”
        You can forget about that in our Brave New Ranked Choice World, especially for Congress. There will be another gaggle of 50 or so candidates whittled down to four every two years now.

    • Matthew myers says:

      Mayo is a leftist shill. Know that and your other question is answered.

      • Mayo says:

        I’m a liberal science sorta guy. In that sense I’m different than you. I’m just as much a shill as you are, meaning I’m not.

    • Sally Duncan says:

      unless RCV is repealed, Republicans (who do not play that game well until they learn to) will lose every time. The races this last election, statewide, included NO democrats running against each other. While those races that included republicans running against each other most were won by democrats or by those saying they were republicans, but really weren’t. The biggest race in the state that was actually won by a REAL conservative republican was Frank Tomaszewski. NO dems ran against each other! Repeat that line – NO dems ran against each other!! Learn to organize, learn to play or lose.That is a bunch of hoohah, if I ever heard it!

  • Dana Raffaniello says:

    The Alaska GOP needs to rally around Kelly T if she does run. Begich needs to stop spoiling the race.

  • Penny Seliger says:

    Discourage Sarah Palin as she is never in the State of Alaska and is out of state more than in Alaska as proven during the 2022 election.

  • Elizabeth Henry says:

    We need to get rid of RCV in order to even have a chance at an honest election.

  • Fallen Republic says:

    Get rid of Dominion machines, Mail in voting, and Rank Choice voting. It’s not just Rank Choice.

  • Citizenkane says:

    I would love to see Kelly or Begich in that seat, but unfortunately too many conservative voters are too stubborn or too stupid to use rank choice to their advantage.

  • Michael Johnson says:

    Until Measure 2 is repealed, and the machines go away, they will continue to install their controlled minions in Alaska’s seats. You absolutely must do your research on how they are stealing seats nationally using a combination of methods. Voter rolls not being cleaned with mail in voting is a huge factor in voter fraud. If you combine that with Ranked Choice voting and the source code altering the vote totals in the Dominion Machines, it is a recipe for disaster. Alaska needs to stop treading water and demand action from the Governor. The petition to repeal Measure 2 is a start.

  • Steve Peterson says:

    Yes! Go Kelley!

  • DaveMaxwell says:

    If Kelly is truly a serious candidate then step up to the plate and reveal what the division of elections did to screw the people of this state.! The question was asked earlier in a post what is Desantis doing? Same question can be asked about Trump! The answer is leading, investigating, revealing, prosecuting, and illuminating.! Why is Kelly not doing anything like this? Want an example in our state happening right now? Look at David Haeg from the kenai pennisula fighting on all our behalf to get the proper roll of the grand jury reestablished. Step up Kelly, prove yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Friend of Humanity says:

      I agree Dave. I don’t understand the silence. I thought for sure we’d see a few candidates trying to figure out what was happening like Kari Lakes is doing in AZ. I am not on Facebook Kelly Tshibaka, so I think that it would be to your advantage to reach out to people on all platforms and not just Facebook. The ranked choice voting process, I think, is the biggest hurdle that we have to remove before we can address votes themselves.
      Sally Duncan, this is not about learning to play their game, it is about uninstalling their cheating game and reinstating fair elections.

    • Penotia says:

      Because it costs money, is an uphill slog against The Machine of entrenched government.

  • Sally Duncan says:

    unless RCV is repealed, Republicans (who do not play that game well until they learn to) will lose every time. The races this last election, statewide, included NO democrats running against each other. While those races that included republicans running against each other most were won by democrats or by those saying they were republicans, but really weren’t. The biggest race in the state that was actually won by a REAL conservative republican was Frank Tomaszewski. NO dems ran against each other! Repeat that line – NO dems ran against each other!! Learn to organize, learn to play or lose.

  • Karl Speights says:

    The issue, from my perspective, is not totally about rank choice voting, or about corrupt voting, but rather about the corruption in politics (lies, dark money, advertising and our incessant conservative-patriotic in-fighting. Ask the question? Why are/were there no debates on the issues, morals, education, beliefs, or experience? I was called an “enemy of the people” by a popular radio talk show personality. Even though he knew nothing about me. Popularity becomes a marketing triumph. I had 3822 confirmations and PMs on my website that they would vote for me. BECAUSE of two of my personal choices/beliefs: I refused to take money, and GOD has directs ALL my military and government service coming into the Senate race.

    • Friend of Humanity says:

      Thank you for your service Karl. I agree that the first and foremost problem here IS the corruption in politics! We would not have problems with our voting system or our votes if we did not have corruption. It is hard to get the corrupt people out if they rig the systems though. I did not know you and your name does not ring a bell. I am leary of voting for people I don’t even know in this day and age because…of the corruption! Are you still active in fighting the good fight? If you are planning on running again, I would be interested in learning more about you.

  • Richard Eide says:

    Met Kelly several times. Smart, capable and dedicated. Hope she runs. Peltola just a Democrat money sponge.