Peltola’s Fish-Centric Campaign Lacks Legislative Action
Mary Peltola, the Democrat nominee for the U.S. Senate from Alaska, has emphasized fishing as a key element of her political identity and upcoming 2026 campaign. However, surprisingly, she did not sponsor any legislation related to fish during her initial term in the U.S. House, which began in 2022.
Fishing is, in many ways, a cornerstone of her brand. She has even created a salmon-themed video game titled “Salmon Run.” Additionally, there’s a Super PAC supporting her called the Fish Family Freedom Fund, and her campaign slogan prominently features the word “Fish.” It’s all quite intriguing, yet it rings a little hollow considering her record.
During her tenure in Congress, Peltola didn’t back a single fish-related bill. Her track record in state government tells a similar story. Over roughly a decade in the Alaska House of Representatives, she introduced just one bill concerning fish—a loan initiative aimed at helping fishers with tax payments. Essentially, it offered financial relief for those struggling with their taxes.
While in Congress, Peltola asked her fellow Democrats to oppose Alaska’s Right to Produce Act. This was a bill she had co-led, aiming to counteract Biden administration restrictions on oil and gas exploration in Alaska, including areas within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Interestingly, although she had initially voted in favor of the bill in committee, she later opted for a “present” vote when it went to the House floor.
After expressing dissatisfaction with politics in the Lower 48, Peltola eventually left Congress and joined the lobbying firm Holland & Hart as the senior director for Alaska affairs, reportedly earning nearly half a million dollars annually. That’s quite a jump, isn’t it?
A spokesman from the Republican National Committee, Nick Poche, criticized her actions, stating, “Mary Peltola sold out Alaskans to become a lobbyist; she urged her colleagues to shut down Alaskan energy; and now we know she doesn’t care about fish. Everything about Peltola is fake; she’s a swamp creature fraud, and she should be ashamed to exist let alone be running for office.” Ouch, that’s a harsh take.
Peltola’s time in public office has also been marked by notable absences. Records show that over her 13 years in service, her absences totaled nearly three years of missed work. Specifically, she missed 794 out of over 4,000 votes during her five terms in the Alaska House of Representatives, along with 22 meetings of the Bethel City Council. Those are some significant numbers.
A spokesperson for her campaign defended her by mentioning that she took maternity leave while serving in the state House. They emphasized that, excluding excused absences, she missed only about six percent of votes while still working on bipartisan initiatives.
