Mary Peltola is a Democratic politician who’s known to get along with her Republican rivals.
Peltola is an Indigenous Alaskan and a member of the Yup’ik tribe.
That hasn’t changed since.
Her predecessor was also a legend Young was the longest-serving congressman in the U.S. government’s history.
That’s quite the feat, and when the general election came around, Peltola won again.
Her accomplishments didn’t go to her head, however.
“Alaska is full of Alaska Native leaders,” she toldElle.
“There’s nothing new or unique or noteworthy to me about being an Alaska Native leader.”
When Peltola won the election, the moment wasn’t just special because she made history.
She told Elle that her parents worked on Congressman Don Young’s campaign 50 years ago.
It was a special moment for Peltola and her state.
The pictures taken that day will most likely end up in history books.
“Brands are made up of a logo or a symbol, a tagline, and a mythology.
In Mary Peltola’s case, the logo is the candidate herself,” Einstein said.
Peltola’s slogan, albeit simple, addressed all the main concerns people in her state have.
The fact that Don Young’s daughters publicly endorsed Peltola definitely didn’t hurt.
Peltola also made it clear that she’s not interested in dirty politics.
She likes to keep things civil.
The fact that she’s Yup’ik gave her another edge her opponents simply didn’t have.
“Could you imagine Sarah Palin being sworn in wearing mukluks?
It’s not going to happen,” Einstein said.
“I would not use that word to describe me ever,” she told Elle.
“Me and my kids and my husband often chuckle about this.”
Just because she wouldn’t necessarily call herself kind doesn’t mean she isn’t.
Peltola describes herself as “polite and respectful.”
“She was never bitter.
She was never angry.
She was never partisan,” he said.
Halcro did, however, add that Peltola is no pushover.
Peltola’s good friend, Bev Hoffman, agreed.
“She is nice.
But she is so tough,” Hoffman told the outlet.
“There is this conflated idea that if you’re kind, you’re naive.
Peltola’s father and Young first crossed paths while they were both still working as teachers.
They enjoyed hunting together and even fought wildfires side by side.
The two remained friends even after they changed careers.
He was more than happy to welcome young Peltola into his home.
This visit, Peltola toldCNN, made her look at Young with new eyes.
“I realized at that time how significant Don’s position was,” she said.
Young is arguably one of the reasons Peltola ended up pursuing politics.
She told Elle that he used to call her his “youngest” volunteer.
“There was a benefit to feeling like public office isn’t for other people.
It’s for everyday people that we know,” she said.
Instead, the two women kept things amicable throughout the elections.
Peltola and Palin’s paths first crossed in Juneau when they both worked at the statehouse.
The two eventually lost touch after Palin resigned as Alaska’s governor.
When Peltola announced her bid for Congress, she and Palin reconnected.
“I love it when Sarah and I are at the same forum.
Every time I see her, I give her a hug.
I’m always happy to see Sarah,” Peltola told CNN.
“I feel camaraderie and a sense of fraternity with both Nick and Sarah.”
Beautiful & smart and tough,” Peltola revealed to AP News.
“I got very, very sick.
“My family and the whole campaign team and I spent a few days being knocked flat.”
It was not pleasant, especially for me,” she told the Independent.
It’s physical labour, and you need all your wits about you.
And I think that that becomes a life and death situation," she said.
“They recognise that I won a unique election in a unique state.
She then explained all the benefits the creation of jobs, infrastructure, and economic growth.
Peltola also made it clear that oil and gas exploration and drilling projects need to do their part too.
This is why, for example, I don’t support Pebble,” she wrote.
A divided nation is a weak nation, and Peltola is eager for Americans to be united again.
Peltola’s upbringing in rural Alaska is one of the reasons she believes in bipartisanship.
“If you come from a really small place, you have to get along with people.
For Alaska Natives, it’s a matter of survival,” Peltola told Elle.
She previously toldThe Guardianthat she’s open to working with everyone when it comes to solving challenging problems.
“If you are an American, you are my team member.
You are my partner, not my enemy.
However, it’s been quite a challenge.
Peltola admits thatglobal warminghas been affecting the state’s fisheries, but another problem is the trawl industry.
Peltola blames the council heading trawling companies for not properly monitoring trawling activity.
Bycatch quotas are still too high and little is being done to ensure habitat protection.
The trawling industry has had a profound impact on Alaska’s smaller fisheries and subsistence fishermen.
“We’re looking at a multi-species collapse,” Peltola toldPolitico.
“And it’s not just subsistence, but these smaller mom-and-pop fisheries.
The commercial industry isn’t just these industrial players.
It’s so many Alaskan families.
It is part of our identity,” she explained.
She added that it might take decades before chum salmon and chinook populations recover.
Peltola found herself feeling a little overwhelmed and lost when she stepped into her new role as a congresswoman.
“Just physically being here presents challenges,” she told Elle.
“I’m away from my family.
I’m away from all of my closest Alaskan friends.
That’s been challenging, but certainly not anything we can’t overcome,” she continued.
She did, however, admit that it was tough in the beginning.
She also made sure to remember the spiritual teachings she’s honored throughout her life.
Not being super young also helps, Peltola said.
“The pilot was the only person on board,” the NTSB confirmed.
We are heartbroken for the family’s loss.”
