Mary Peltola

Mary Peltola, the U.S. Representative for Alaska's at-large congressional district, is the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress. She was elected in 2022. Peltola was born and raised in Kwethluk, a small village in southwest Alaska. She is a member of the Yupik people and grew up subsistence fishing and hunting – she started fishing commercially with her father when she was 6 years old. Peltola attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where she earned a bachelor's degree in community and rural development.

Prior to entering politics, Peltola worked as a commercial salmon fisherwoman and served as the executive director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, advocating for sustainable fishing practices and native subsistence rights. She was first elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 2016, where she focused on issues important to rural Alaskans.

In Congress, Peltola has continued to be a champion for Alaska Native communities, working to protect the state's natural resources and traditional way of life. She currently sits on the House Natural Resources Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Peltola has also focused on improving infrastructure, healthcare access, and economic development in her vast and sparsely populated district.

Despite her party affiliation as a Democrat, Peltola has cultivated a reputation as an independent-minded, bipartisan legislator. She has shown a willingness to work with Republicans on issues where there is common ground, such as bolstering the U.S. Coast Guard's presence in the Arctic.