Nick Begich Wins Alaska House Seat

Republican candidate Nick Begich has won Alaska's at-large House seat, defeating incumbent Democrat Mary Peltola with 51.3% of the vote, solidifying the GOP's majority in the House at 219 seats to 213. Peltola, who had previously flipped the seat in 2022, conceded and expressed her hopes for Begich's success. The race was marked by significant fundraising, with both candidates raising around $13 million, and heavy outside spending totaling approximately $28 million. Begich's victory is seen as crucial for the GOP as they navigate a narrow majority amidst several Republican members leaving for the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Alaska's state House will see a coalition majority led by mostly Democrats, breaking the Republican control from the past two years, with independent Rep. Bryce Edgmon returning as speaker. The state continues to utilize ranked-choice voting, which played a role in both the House election and the ongoing discussions about its effectiveness among voters.