While Alaska U.S. senatorial candidate Mary Peltola claims she is “Alaska First,” her growing affiliation with leading national Democrats who oppose fossil fuels and back radical climate alarmist policies is gaining national attention.
On Feb. 6, the Washington Examiner published a piece highlighting Peltola’s problematic relationship with climate activists who are fundamentally opposed to Alaska’s oil and gas-based economy.
The Examiner piece notes that Peltola has the backing of climate radicals like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA). This duo introduced The Green New Deal back in 2019 with the goal of transitioning the United States away from fossil fuels and moving towards greater reliance on controversial and expensive “renewable energy” sources. This strategy included Markey’s introduction of legislation to halt drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Other prominent Democrats who are backing Peltola include California’s hard-left Gov. Gavin Newsom, who wants to phase out fossil fuels, as well as former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and former Vice President Kamala Harris – both of whom want to see restrictions on oil and gas development.
Peltola has attempted to frame herself as a pro-development Democrat, but the reality is that her bid to unseat GOP incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan is part of a national Democrat strategy to retake control of the U.S. Senate and thereby thwart oil, gas and other natural resource development aims of President Trump and the wider Republican Party.
Republican strategist Dennis Lennox told the Examiner that Alaskans are well aware that national Democrats are fundamentally opposed to the fossil fuel industry which forms the backbone of Alaska’s economy.
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
“Mary Peltola can brand herself however she wants, but support from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ed Markey tells voters exactly where she fits in the national Democratic Party — Alaska Last, not Alaska First,” he said.
Peltola’s ties to the anti-oil and gas lobby will likely become a tricky campaign issue as she attempts to satisfy Alaska’s leftist voters while trying to appeal to a broader electorate in a state that overwhelmingly voted for Trump.
Since launching her campaign last month, Peltola has remained mostly silent on oil and gas, choosing instead to focus on fishing rights, fighting political corruption and working for affordable housing and groceries.
Her national political career began when she won a 2022 special election to replace the late Congressman Don Young. Two years later, she lost her re-election campaign to current U.S. Rep. Nick Begich.
Her reemergence has generated intense interest by national Democrats who are hoping to flip at least four U.S. Senate seats to retake the upper chamber.
