Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) received backing from a group that has called to “defund the police” and “abolish ICE” after pushing for the endorsement.
MoveOn, a Democratic-aligned group that claims to “advance a progressive agenda,” unveiled its slate of endorsements earlier this month for House races in November, listing several Democrats seeking to flip or hold on to swing seats.
Peltola has campaigned as a centrist as she faces a daunting reelection bid for Alaska’s at-large seat, which holds a partisan voting index of Republican +8, according to the Cook Political Report, and received an endorsement from the group. She is facing a challenge from Republican Nick Begich.
The group hails Peltola as having a “commitment to Alaska’s working families,” among other praises in its endorsement page. Peltola does not tout the group’s endorsement on her campaign’s website, but she applied for the endorsement, according to an email sent by the group to its Alaska members.
“I have demonstrated a strong track record in advancing policies that align with MoveOn’s mission, including advocating for Alaska Native rights, affordable healthcare, workers’ rights, and reproductive rights,” Peltola said in her endorsement application, according to the email circulated by the group.
“My work in supporting Indigenous communities and pushing for sustainable economic development showcases my dedication to inclusive and equitable solutions. My pragmatic approach, combined with my ability to build bipartisan support, positions me as a powerful advocate for transformative change,” her statement in the application continued.
MoveOn endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president after endorsing President Joe Biden after the 2020 primary and again this cycle before he dropped out of the race. In the 2016 Democratic primary, the group endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Other vulnerable Democratic House candidates endorsed by the group include Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D-CO), who is seeking reelection in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, and Tony Vargas, who is seeking to oust Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) in Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. Neither candidate has touted MoveOn’s endorsement on his or her campaign website.
“Extreme House Democrats are not just accepting MoveOn’s endorsement — they’re celebrating it. Clearly, their agenda is MoveOn’s agenda, from defunding the police to abolishing ICE,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ben Petersen said in a statement.
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Peltola’s race, along with Caraveo’s and Vargas’s, has been rated as a “toss-up” by the Cook Political Report.
The race for the House of Representatives appears to be a toss-up as the GOP aims to hold control of the lower chamber of Congress. Democrats would need to net four seats to flip the chamber.