Firebrand Republican Sarah Palin failed in her attempt to get elected to Congress 14 years after she was appointed to the vice presidency.
Democrat Mary Peltola won special elections to fill AlaskaShe is the only seat in the House of Representatives, making her the first Alaskan native to serve in the House and the first woman elected to the State House seat.
The Alaska House seat had been held for 49 years by Republican Don Young before he died in March.
Ms. Palin, the former Republican governor of the state, lost 48.53% of the vote against 51.47%.
While he was unsuccessful in his run for vice president with John McCain in 2008 – an election won by Barack Obamawith Joe Biden as vice president – she became famous for her outspoken, anti-Washington elite approach, which connected with many on the Republican right.
But she was attacked by the media after a series of interviews and debates in which commentators accused her of not fully grasping the necessary details of the questions that had been posed to her.
The Tea Party movement, in which it was subsequently heavily involved, is sometimes seen as the forerunner of Trumpism which is now firmly entrenched as a wing of the Republican Party.
The significance of Ms. Palin’s loss has yet to be analyzed as Donald Trump – who is expected to run for president again in 2024 – was among those who supported her.
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Peltola’s victory is a notable achievement for the Democrats, in a state that has supported a Republican presidential candidate in every election since 1968.
Mary Peltola, who won the election to take Alaska’s seat in the United States House of Representatives. Image: AP
The Democrat said she was honored and humiliated by the support she received.
Nearly 20% of Alaska’s population is indigenous, the highest percentage in the United States.
The election was the first to take place under the state’s new “ranked choice” system, with voters listing candidates in order of preference in the ballot.
A candidate must get 50% of the votes to be declared the winner.
The winner of the special election will serve Mr Young’s term, which was due to end later this year.
Ms Palin will make a new attempt on November 8 to fill the seat for the next two years, when she will again face Ms Peltola and also Republican Nick Begich III.
