The National Rifle Association (NRA) made an unusual endorsement of a Democrat by backing the reelection campaign of Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska).
Recommendation Peltola’s endorsement marks the NRA’s first backing of a Democrat since the organization backed former Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) in 2020. First reported According to the Washington Examiner.
Peltola is Alaska’s sole representative and a champion of the Second Amendment. Campaign websiteShe owns 176 long guns and said she challenges “those who trample on Alaska’s freedom.”
In a statement to The Hill, she said she campaigned on a “pro-freedom platform” in 2022 and continues to do so now.
“Firearms are an integral part of Alaskan culture and the subsistence lifestyle,” Peltola said. [owners] “We are the strongest advocates of responsible gun ownership. We’re imparting knowledge and skills to kids.”
Peltola argued the support could help people understand Alaska culture and recognize “the importance of the Second Amendment in our communities.”
So far, no other Democrats have been endorsed by the NRA’s 2024 Political Victory Fund in either the House or the Senate.
Peltola, a centrist Democrat, has been serving in Congress since his unexpected victory in heavily Republican Alaska in 2022, defeating former Republican Gov. Sarah Palin.
The Hill has reached out to the NRA for comment.
