Mary Peltola facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Mary Peltola
Akalleq
Official portrait, 2022

Co-Chair of the Blue Dog Coalition for Policy
In office May 24, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Jim Costa
Succeeded by	Lou Correa
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alaska's at-large district
In office September 13, 2022 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Don Young
Succeeded by	Nick Begich III
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
In office January 19, 1999 – January 19, 2009
Preceded by	Ivan Ivan
Succeeded by	Bob Herron
Constituency	38th district (2003–2009) 39th district (1999–2003)

Personal details
Born	Mary Sattler (1973-08-31) August 31, 1973 (age 51) Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.
Citizenship	United States Orutsararmiut Native Council
Political party	Democratic
Spouses	Jonathan Kapsner (divorced) Joe Nelson (divorced) Buzzy Peltola (died 2023)
Children	7

Mary Sattler Peltola (born August 31, 1973) is an American politician. She served as the U.S. representative for Alaska from 2022 to 2025. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

Before becoming a U.S. representative, Peltola was a judge for the Orutsararmiut Native Council's tribal court. She also led the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. She was a city councilor in Bethel and a member of the Alaska House of Representatives.

In 2022, Peltola won a special election. She defeated former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and Nick Begich III. This election was the first to use ranked-choice voting in Alaska. Her win was historic because she became the first Alaska Native member of Congress. She was also the first woman to represent Alaska in the House. Plus, she was the first person born in Alaska elected to the House.

Peltola was reelected for a full term in November 2022. However, she was defeated in her 2024 re-election bid by Republican Nick Begich III.

Early Life and Education

Mary Sattler was born in Anchorage on August 31, 1973. She is Yup'ik, an Alaska Native people from Western Alaska. Her Yup'ik name is Akalleq, which means "the one who rolled."

Her father, Ward Sattler, was from Nebraska and worked as a pilot and teacher. Her mother, Elizabeth "LizAnn" Piicigaq Williams, was Yup'ik from Kwethluk. Mary grew up in several Alaskan communities. As a child, she traveled with her father when he campaigned for Congressman Don Young.

Peltola studied elementary education at the University of Northern Colorado from 1991 to 1993. She also took classes at other universities in Alaska. During college, she worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. She helped with herring and salmon research.

In 1995, Peltola won the Miss National Congress of American Indians pageant. She performed traditional Yup'ik dances. She wore traditional clothing, including a squirrel skin parka and wolf hair headdress.

Early Career in Politics

In 1996, Peltola worked as an intern in the Alaska Legislature. Later that year, she ran for a seat in the Bethel region but lost. She then worked as a reporter.

Serving in the Alaska House of Representatives (1999–2009)

In 1998, Peltola was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives. She won after a second try against Ivan Ivan. She was reelected several times with little opposition.

In the House, Peltola worked on committees like Finance and Health and Social Services. She helped restart the Bush Caucus. This group includes lawmakers who represent rural Alaskan communities.

In 2004, Peltola spoke out against rules that would stop schools from testing students in the native Yupik language. She also wrote a law that allowed teachers to be excused from jury duty. This was for teachers in schools that were not meeting certain progress goals.

Local Government Roles (2009–2022)

Peltola testifying before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 2018

From 2008 to 2014, Peltola managed community development for the Donlin Creek Mine. In 2010, she helped U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski with her successful write-in campaign.

Peltola was elected to the Bethel City Council in 2011. She served there until 2013. From 2015 to 2017, she worked as a lobbyist in Alaska. After 2016, she became the executive director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. From 2020 to 2021, she served as a judge for the Orutsararmiut Native Council's tribal court.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (2022–2025)

Elections

2022 Special Election

Peltola during the 117th Congress

In 2022, a special election was held to fill the seat of Don Young after he passed away. This election used a new system called ranked-choice voting. Many candidates ran, and the top four moved to the general election.

Mary Peltola was one of three candidates who advanced to the final ranked voting rounds. She was the only Democrat. She won against Republican former governor Sarah Palin and Republican Nick Begich III. This made her the first Alaska Native in Congress.

2022 General Election

Peltola celebrating her 2022 re-election

Peltola ran for a full term in the November 2022 general election. She received the most votes in the primary election. Senator Lisa Murkowski publicly supported Peltola.

Peltola also received support from the daughters of former Congressman Don Young. She won the election on November 23, defeating Sarah Palin again. She received 55% of the ranked-choice votes.

2024 Election

In the 2024 election, Peltola ran for re-election. The main candidates were Peltola, Nick Begich III, and Nancy Dahlstrom. Dahlstrom later withdrew from the race.

On November 20, it was announced that Nick Begich III had defeated Peltola. Begich received 51.3% of the final ranked-choice votes. Peltola received 48.7%.

Time in Office

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi swears in Peltola as her husband, Gene "Buzzy" Peltola, looks on

Mary Peltola was sworn in as Alaska's U.S. representative on September 13, 2022. Her swearing-in was a historic moment. For the first time, Congress had an Alaska Native, four Native Americans, and a Native Hawaiian serving together. She is the fourth Native woman elected to Congress.

On September 29, 2022, Peltola's first bill passed the House. This bill aimed to create an office for Food Security in the Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill passed with a vote of 376 to 49.

During a railroad labor dispute in 2022, Peltola voted against a bill that would force a new contract on railroad workers. She believed the contract should include paid sick days.

In February 2023, Peltola chose Josh Revak, a former Republican state senator, to lead her Alaska office. Her staff included Republicans, showing a focus on working across parties.

Committee Work

For the 118th Congress, Mary Peltola served on important committees:

Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Federal Lands
- Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
- Subcommittee on Aviation
- Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation

Groups She Joined

Peltola was part of these groups in Congress:

Blue Dog Coalition
Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment

Political Views

Peltola in July 2022

Energy

Peltola supported the ConocoPhillips Willow Project. This project aimed to increase oil development in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska. She encouraged the White House to approve it, which they did.

Fisheries

Fisheries were a main focus for Peltola during her campaigns. She supports changing the Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. This act helps protect fisheries and ocean environments. She believes the act should prioritize the environment more.

Gun Rights

On June 13, 2023, Peltola voted with Republicans on a bill about pistol braces. She was one of two Democrats to do so. In her 2024 re-election campaign, the NRA supported her. She was the only Democratic candidate for Congress endorsed by the NRA that year.

Healthcare

On January 31, 2023, Peltola voted against a bill to remove COVID-19 vaccine requirements for healthcare workers. The next day, she voted against ending the COVID-19 national emergency.

Immigration

On February 9, 2023, Peltola voted against a resolution that criticized a plan in Washington, D.C. This plan would allow non-citizens to vote in local elections. On May 8, 2024, she voted against a law that would exclude non-citizens from population counts for U.S. Representatives.

Foreign Policy

In 2023, Peltola voted against a resolution that would have required President Joe Biden to remove U.S. troops from Syria within 180 days.

LGBT Rights

On December 8, 2022, Peltola voted for the Respect for Marriage Act. This law recognized same-sex and interracial marriages federally. On April 20, 2023, she voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. This bill would have required athletes to compete based on their assigned sex at birth. Peltola called the bill "bullying" and said it targeted the transgender community.

Personal Life

Mary Peltola is the first U.S. Representative from Alaska to be born in the state. She is an Alaska Native and a member of the Orutsararmiut Native Council. She is an Orthodox Christian.

Peltola has four biological children and three stepchildren. Her third husband, Eugene "Buzzy" Peltola Jr., was the Alaska director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He passed away in 2023 after a plane crash.