Overview:
U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola met with Alaska Native elders, youth and other attendees at the First Alaskans Institute’s 43rd Annual Statewide Elders & Youth Conference in Anchorage on Monday and Tuesday, discussing priorities including fisheries restoration, rural communities, lower living costs and legislation affecting Alaska Native communities.
Native Vote 2026
Mary Peltola (Yup’ik ), a lifelong Alaskan and candidate for the U.S. Senate, attended the First Alaskans Institute’s 43rd Annual Statewide Elders & Youth Conference on Monday and Tuesday, meeting with attendees to discuss issues affecting Alaska Native communities and residents across the state.
Peltola spoke with conference participants about their priorities and how she would address their concerns if elected to the U.S. Senate.
“It was great to speak to so many Alaskans from across our state at this year’s Elders & Youth conference,” Peltola said. “Alaskans are ready for change, and together, we can lower costs, strengthen rural communities, and put Alaska first.”
Peltola has emphasized her commitment to Alaska Native communities and identified several priorities for her potential Senate service, including restoring Alaska fisheries, developing the state’s oil and gas resources, lowering housing and health care costs, funding public radio, protecting the federal 8(a) program, advancing legislation for landless Alaska Native communities and strengthening the Alaska Marine Highway System.
Her appearance at the conference followed announcements outlining plans to lower costs, support fisheries, increase oil and gas production, assist veterans and address what her campaign describes as a broken political system in Washington, D.C.
The conference, organized annually by the First Alaskans Institute, brings together Alaska Native elders, youth and community members to discuss issues affecting Indigenous peoples and the future of Alaska Native communities.
Peltola’s campaign said nearly 17,500 Alaskans had signed up to support her bid for the Senate.
