Nick Begich Leads in Alaska House Race

In the closely contested race for Alaska's U.S. House seat, Republican challenger Nick Begich is leading incumbent Democrat Mary Peltola by a margin of 50.1% to 44.8% based on early unofficial results. This election is crucial, as it could influence control of the House of Representatives, and significant campaign spending has made it one of the most expensive congressional races in history, with over $40 million raised. Peltola, who became the first Alaska Native elected to Congress in 2022, is facing a tough challenge as Begich capitalizes on a more traditional Republican-Democrat matchup after other GOP candidates withdrew. The election includes initiatives on repealing open primaries and raising the minimum wage, which have sparked debate among Alaskan voters. Final results may not be known until November 20 due to Alaska's ranked-choice voting system, where the counting of votes from predominantly Native areas is still pending. The race exemplifies the high stakes involved for both parties as they vie for control of the chamber.