Federal prisoner & fisheries: Peltola, Begich defend comments during Anchorage Chamber debate

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Past comments surrounding a federal prisoner and the fisheries took focus during the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce’s U.S. House debate forum Monday between incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Anchorage, and Republican Nick Begich.

The key debate moments came as the two candidates asked each other questions during the debate that also looked at the economy, immigration, and climate change.

Asking the first question, Peltola asked Begich about comments he made on former Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka’s podcast encouraging voters to vote for New York federal prisoner Eric Hafner — who appears as another Democratic ballot option — over Peltola in the general election.

She reminded Begich that Hafner is serving a 20-year prison sentence, in part, for threatening public officials.

“I think we were talking about the fact that Eric Hafner at least has the ability to admit who he’s going to vote for for president, and you did not, and I found that interesting. And if there are Democrats out there, they’re looking for someone to support who supports Kamala Harris, there’s someone in this race that does,” Begich said. “I wouldn’t encourage anyone to vote for Eric Hafner or for you. I would encourage you to vote for me and nobody else in this race.”

As she has done before, during the debate, Peltola would not endorse Vice President Kamala Harris, while Begich confirmed he is supporting former President Donald Trump.

Hafner finished sixth in the primary election with less than 500 votes, but moved up when third-place finisher Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom and fourth-place finisher Matthew Salisbury — both Republicans — withdrew from the election.

Even though he currently resides in the state and is appealing his sentence, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled he was eligible to appear on the ballot, as nothing in state or federal statute prohibits it.

Begich attacked Peltola for saying protecting Alaska’s fisheries is a central part of her campaign, while referencing at a recent ConocoPhillips forum that Peltola suggested she would rather sit on the appropriations committee over the resources committee.

“I think that on appropriations, there are plenty of ways to help Alaska and Alaskan seafood. We have been short-changed on research and surveys on a number of different species and gear types,” Peltola said. “Much of the funding that Ted Stevens was so successful in securing for research and surveys in Alaskan waters have been misdirected, redirected to Washington State under the auspices of that funding having priority for treaty tribes or endangered species.”

With a measure on the ballot this year to repeal ranked choice voting and the open primary system in Alaska, the two candidates were asked their opinions.

Supporters of the ballot measure say ranked-choice voting is confusing, but opponents say the current system offers Alaskans more choices on the ballot.

Peltola said she supports the current system, saying partisan primaries are a problem for most Alaskans.

“I believe that partisan primaries have gotten us in America to a place where people are no longer having conversations; they’re just screaming at each other,” Peltola said. “I think partisan primaries do not serve Alaskans very well, considering that over 60% of Alaskans are nonpartisan, undeclared, or independent. They don’t affiliate with an organized party.”

In contrast, Begich said he does not support ranked-choice voting, saying it’s a system that can be manipulated.

“We do have a convicted felon on the ballot out of state. Doesn’t live here —not going to live here — and part of that is because we didn’t have a primary process that eliminated that person,“ Begich said. ”We have seen what happens. About 30% of all voters will not rank a second choice. We saw that in the last election. I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s even higher in this election."

One of the most controversial questions of the day, which came from an audience member, asked the candidate if they would support a federal ban on transgender athletes if elected.

Begich said he doesn’t think transgender athletes should be banned, but he thinks men competing in women’s sports should be prohibited.

“There’s a difference, all right? And I want to make that very clear. Transgender athletes are free to compete with one another, right? But when it comes to women’s sports — and this is something that was a passionate issue for Ted Stevens, our late senator ... it’s not safe, it’s not right, it’s not fair," Begich said.

Calling it a culture war issue, Peltola said this is not a primary issue for her, claiming that Alaska has had one transgender athlete who participates in high school.

“We have real problems. We’ve got inflation. We’ve got every sector of the economy without skilled labor, skilled workforce. We have childcare ... the list goes on and on,” Peltola said. “No, I don’t think that we should have men competing in women’s sports. But you know, on the other hand, look at the number of female Olympian athletes who have been questioned about their femininity. Their questioned are they even a woman? ... this is just not something that is number one for me.”

In April 2023, Peltola voted against H.R. 734, the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.” The bill, which passed the House but stalled in the Senate, prohibits school athletic programs from allowing individuals whose biological sex at birth was male to participate in programs for women or girls.

On social media at the time, Peltola said, “I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: I don’t believe in bullying. That’s exactly what H.R. 734 amounts to, and I remain firmly opposed to it.”

Four candidates are on the ballot for the U.S. House seat in Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system.

In addition to Hafner, who is serving time in a federal prison, Alaska Independence Party candidate John Wayne Howe was invited to the debate forum. He told Alaska’s News Source he decided not to attend due to travel costs and his position in the race.

Hafner told Alaska’s News Source he did let them know he was not attending by email, but he says no one responded to him.

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