Rep. Mary Peltola talks leaving Congress, highlights of her term, what’s next

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) is leaving Congress in the next couple of weeks after losing her reelection bid, and she reflected on her achievements as a lawmaker in Washington and what lies ahead.

Peltola discussed several accomplishments in her two-year term as a congresswoman in an exit interview with Gray TV Washington News Bureau reporter Josh Rultenberg.

She said one of her proudest moments was taking the lead for Alaska on the Kroger Albertsons merger, and that it was halted.

“I think that’s ultimately going to be really impactful in a good way for Alaskan households,” Peltola said.

Increasing renewable energy was also a big highlight for her.

“We’re beefing up our electricity grid and, creating a new grid that will accept renewable energy,” she said. “And I think that’s really important as Alaska grows.”

She also pointed out that she, alongside her team, was “able to get the president to issue an executive order finally, again, after 10 years, to prevent the loophole that allowed Russian caught fish into American markets.”

Ultimately, Peltola says she learned a lot during her time in Congress and in Washington D.C., attributing Alaska’s senators for the “cohesive delegation.”

“We had such a great, diverse group of supporters in every sector, every kind of fisherman, every kind of Alaskan,” she said. “And it’s just heartwarming.”

In her last days as a lawmaker, she has been pushing the Landless Bill which she introduced in July 2023 to allow Alaska Native communities to form urban corporations and receive land entitlements under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971.

She has also been pushing a bill, which she says, “would help elders who are on benefits receive dividends and that not count against their benefits.”

Once those bills are closed out, she says that is when she will be ready to make the transition out of Congress.

In her closing remarks, she said “I’m just really grateful. And thank you to all Alaskans for allowing me to represent you. And I’m looking forward to working with you again in the future.”

As for what comes next for her, she says she is “looking forward to a private life again.”

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