(John Ransom, Headline USA) Sarah Palin, the once iconic face of conservatives in the GOP, has announced she will be running for Congress to replace the late Representative Don Young (R).
“America is at a tipping point,” said Palin via a Facebook announcement.
“The people of the great State of Alaska, like others all over the country, are struggling with out-of-control inflation, empty shelves, and gas prices that are among the highest in the world,” Palin added, saying that Alaska could help provide energy security for the whole country.
Up to 50 people have filed as candidates in the race to replace Young said Alaska Public Radio.
Join our campaign -> https://t.co/CrlfiG8MJn
“Today I’m announcing my candidacy for the U.S. House seat representing Alaska. Public service is a calling, and I would be honored to represent the men and women of Alaska in Congress, just as Rep. Young did for 49 years.” – SP pic.twitter.com/pdMpeDGlRV
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) April 2, 2022
Palin’s main challenger is Nick Begich III, who is the grandson of the congressman who served in the seat prior to Young being elected.
Young, who died at the age of 88, was the longest serving congressman, having been elected in 1973 according to the New York Times.
Palin was the popular face of John McCain’s doomed presidential campaign, which was injected with new life when the legacy political figure selected the then-popular Governor of Alaska to be his vice presidential running mate.
Begich so far has raised $300,000 for his campaign, said Alaska Public Radio, a sum that is likely to be dwarfed by Palin, who previously had an unmatched ability to tap into conservative donors.
A special statewide primary will be held on June 11 for Alaska’s single congressional seat, said CNN.
Alaska’s system then moves the top-four vote-getters from that contest to the general election, where the state has ranked choice voting with voters picking candidates from their first choice to their fifth choice regardless of how many candidates are on the ballot, according to the sample shared by the Alaska Secretary of State.
Reporting on Palin’s candidacy, CNN admitted that today Palin’s rhetoric better matches the GOP than it did under John McCain and George Bush in 2008, even as she has refused to run for office in the 14 years since McCain went down to defeat.
“At this critical time in our nation’s history, we need leaders who will combat the left’s socialist, big-government, America-last agenda,” added Palin’s Facebook announcement.
“I’m in this race to win it and join the fight for freedom alongside other patriots willing to sacrifice all to save our country,” Palin concluded.
