Staff Reports
Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat from Alaska, has pulled off what can only be described as a political unicorn sighting by securing an endorsement from the National Rifle Association (NRA). This is no small feat and is a glaring exception to the trend of gun groups shunning the elephant in the room known as the Democratic Party over the last few years. The last time the NRA backed a Democrat was in 2020 for Collin Peterson, a former representative from Minnesota who has since faded into the political ether.
Peltola is currently filling the big shoes left by GOP stalwart Don Young, who held Alaska’s House seat for an astonishing 49 years. The recent flip to a Democrat for the House at-large seat in 2022 shocked many, especially given that Republicans have dominated that territory since the Nixon administration. However, Peltola has carved out a niche as a centrist, so it’s no wonder that the NRA is willing to hitch their wagon to her star—even if it’s a Democrat star.
MARY PELTOLA IS NRA ENDORSED, FIRST NRA ENDORSED DEMOCRAT SINCE COLIN PETERSON pic.twitter.com/Z5HBfyu3aH
— Brody (@BordyBrody) August 1, 2024
What makes this endorsement even juicier is the fact that Peltola has an affinity for oil and gas, which is music to the ears of Alaskans. It appears she’s blending the best of both worlds—centrist Democratic views with a strong, pro-energy stance that makes her somewhat of a rare breed. In a time when many Democrats lean leftward and skirt around the topic of energy, she’s boldly waving the oil flag in a state whose economy thrives on it.
The backdrop here is that post-Parkland, the NRA has been in full retreat when it comes to endorsing Democrats. Many self-proclaimed “moderate” and centrist Republicans have also jumped on the gun control bandwagon, leaving the NRA to scramble. But Peltola seems to be strolling right through that mess, walking the line between party loyalty and common-sense governance that resonates with her constituents—and clearly, the NRA too.
Interestingly, Peltola is the lone Democrat in a sea of GOP representatives with no other Senate or House Dems standing beside her with the NRA stamp of approval. It appears she’s waving the flag of bipartisanship in a time when increasingly few Democrats seem to care about fostering relationships with pro-Second Amendment groups. One can only wonder if her endorsement is a sign that the NRA is trying to expand its reach in a world where Democrats seem locked in a perpetual quest for stricter gun control measures.
