Mary Peltola named Pritzker Fellow in Chicago, fueling speculation on a platform for her 2026 political plans

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Mary Peltola

Former US Rep. Mary Peltola has been selected as one of six new Pritzker Fellows at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics. It’s a prestigious appointment that will give her a platform this fall in a Democratic stronghold, even as speculation builds over her next political move.

The fellowship, announced this week, places Peltola alongside other Democratic and progressive figures including former Obama Administration official Alex Wagner, former US ambassador David Pressman, and Center for Constitutional Rights executive director Vince Warren. The Pritzker Fellows program, founded by longtime Barack Obama strategist David Axelrod, is dominated by strongly partisan Democrat choices.

Democrats’ Alaska play is to keep Sullivan busy, not beaten, with useful pawn Peltola

Peltola will be part of the fall cohort that begins in September. Pritzger Fellows participate in 8-week residencies during an academic quarter. Fellows must lead weekly 75-minute, non-credit, off-the-record seminars for University of Chicago students, focusing on their careers and experiences. Formats include discussions, simulations, or tabletop exercises.

Peltola will also have to hold four hours of weekly one-on-one office hours (20-minute appointments) to discuss career advice or current issues with students. As senior director of Alaska Affairs at Holland & Hart LLP, a law firm, where she works as a non-lawyer government affairs professional, she may take a leave from her job at to participate; more likely the company will keep her on the payroll.

Peltola’s application would have included a two-page seminar summary, a curriculum vitae/biography, and details of her background via an online form.

The timing of Peltola’s appointment comes as national Democrats are watching closely to see if she will reenter Alaska politics in 2026. On Aug. 21, the Cook Political Report reiterated the news that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has been urging Peltola to challenge Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, who is up for reelection in 2026. But polls suggest Peltola might fare better in Alaska’s open governor’s race, where she would likely clear the Democratic field — even forcing out former legislator Tom Begich.

Still, Cook reported that Peltola has signaled more openness to a Senate run, despite the long odds for Democrats in the red-leaning state. The fellowship in Chicago gives her a taxpayer-subsidized springboard to raise money in a Democratic donor hub, under the cover of academia.

Peltola, who made history in 2022 as the first Alaska Native elected to Congress, served one term before losing her reelection bid in 2024 to Congressman Nick Begich. At the Institute of Politics, she will host student seminars and share insights from her time in Washington, even as she weighs a potential comeback bid.

Whether Peltola’s time in Chicago becomes a stepping stone to the governor’s mansion or the US Senate, Democrats are obsessed with gaming out how her next move could reshape Alaska’s political map in 2026.

Data for Progress poll shows Peltola vulnerable if Republicans unite behind one candidate

Breaking: Mary Peltola sues hunting guide and bush aviation company

Peltola sells out her donors by hawking their names and giving records to an out-of-state fundraiser

What Nat Herz missed about the Peltola speculation

47 COMMENTS

  1. While Mary Petola is pleasant person, I am afraid that she is about as intellectually shallow as Kamala Harris and is unwilling and/or unable to to provide the Democratic Party the leadership it needs to tack away from its hopelessly woke present course.

  2. So she will be giving career advice to university students….. What will that advice be? She has never completed anything. Lessons on grifting your way into positions you have no business being in? Wish she would just go away.

  3. Peltola’s timing couldn’t be better. She could never get through law school because she’s too lazy to study hard. So, become a non-lawyer fellow and get get your law certificate the easy way. Sue white folks for colonizing Alaska and hire all LGBTQ unqualified people. Complain about everything that’s not DEI approved . Good enough for government work and the Democrat Party. Maybe she will even find husband number 6 while in Chicago.

  4. Mary Peltola is a democrat first and a Alaskan last. She did nothing positive for our state. Anyone supporting her doesn’t care about Alaska only their twisted ideology.

  5. I do not see how she could come up with anywhere near the necessary content to fill eight seventy-five minute lectures. She does not have that much to tell. She could have someone ghost-write the lectures but that would be horrible to listen to.

    I would add that running for office in Alaska while being mostly in another state will be really hard.

  6. The Pritzker family ought to be indicted for all the blood money they have squeezed. Start with their funding all the “trans”gender crap.

  7. Is becoming a “Pritzker Fellow” similar to receiving the “Pulitzer Prize”? Just another name for something phony.

  8. Is Mary up to the tasks required of this appointment? Sounds like a lot of work. Unless, she does nothing and they say she’s completed all tasks. Maybe an AI Mary could handle the workload? Either way, Dems are not giving up on her and see value in the boxes she checks.

  9. This is a female that doesn’t know the upside of a fishing rod! She’s just a token for the communist left. Well done Mary, well done…

  10. The alaska native corporations need to get out of forcing us to be democrats or they use organized crime and fraud to push these repeaters, parrots, frauds… she isnt anyone i want representing me!… Mary Peltola et al will do and say anything like biden was sharp as a tack… the only thing you can count on peltola for is waste fraud and abuse.

    Her buddy ruthie borromeo is on probation for elections fraud and falsifying public records… its how biden harris and peltola and murkowski have been elected over and over- fraud en masse kills. True story….

    Bethel Alaska- corruption central

    4BE-24-00505CR State of Alaska vs. Borromeo, Ruthie NP
    Case Type: Criminal
    Case Status: Reopened
    File Date: 07/30/2024

    Case Judge: Peters, Nathaniel
    Next Event: 07/13/2026

    Pay
    All Information
    Party Information
    Borromeo, Ruthie – Defendant
    DOB 03/24/1963
    Alias
    Party Attorney
    Attorney Public Defender Agency (4BE)
    Bar Code PD4BE
    Phone (907)543-2488
    State of Alaska – Prosecution
    DOB
    Alias
    Party Attorney
    Attorney McCarthy, Erin F
    Bar Code 2004026
    Phone (907)269-6250
    Attorney Office of Special Prosecutions
    Bar Code OSP
    Phone
    Party Charge Information
    Borromeo, Ruthie

    – Defendant
    Charge # 1: AS1556060 – Class C Felony AS15.56.060: Unlawful Interference w/ Election
    Original Charge AS1556060 AS15.56.060: Unlawful Interference w/ Election (Class C Felony)
    Indicted Charge AS1556060 AS15.56.060: Unlawful Interference w/ Election (Class C Felony)
    Amended Charge
    DV Related? No
    Modifiers None
    Stage Date 07/30/2024
    ATN # 118830267
    Tracking # 001
    Offense Location Pilot Station
    Date of Offense 10/04/2022
    Borromeo, Ruthie

    – Defendant
    Charge # 2: AS1556060 – Class C Felony AS15.56.060: Unlawful Interference w/ Election
    Original Charge AS1556060 AS15.56.060: Unlawful Interference w/ Election (Class C Felony)
    Indicted Charge AS1556060 AS15.56.060: Unlawful Interference w/ Election (Class C Felony)
    Amended Charge
    DV Related? No
    Modifiers None
    Stage Date 07/30/2024
    ATN # 118830267
    Tracking # 002
    Offense Location Pilot Station
    Date of Offense 10/04/2022
    Borromeo, Ruthie

    – Defendant
    Charge # 3: AS1556070 – Class C Felony AS15.56.070: Election Official Misconduct 1
    Original Charge AS1556070 AS15.56.070: Election Official Misconduct 1 (Class C Felony)
    Indicted Charge AS1556070 AS15.56.070: Election Official Misconduct 1 (Class C Felony)
    Amended Charge
    DV Related? No
    Modifiers None
    Stage Date 07/30/2024
    ATN # 118830267
    Tracking # 003
    Offense Location Pilot Station
    Date of Offense 10/04/2022
    Borromeo, Ruthie

    – Defendant
    Charge # 4: AS1556070 – Class C Felony AS15.56.070: Election Official Misconduct 1
    Original Charge AS1556070 AS15.56.070: Election Official Misconduct 1 (Class C Felony)
    Indicted Charge AS1556070 AS15.56.070: Election Official Misconduct 1 (Class C Felony)
    Amended Charge
    DV Related? No
    Modifiers None
    Stage Date 07/30/2024
    ATN # 118830267
    Tracking # 004
    Offense Location Pilot Station
    Date of Offense 10/04/2022
    Borromeo, Ruthie

    – Defendant
    Charge # 5: AS1556060 – Class C Felony AS15.56.060: Unlawful Interference w/ Election
    Original Charge AS1556060 AS15.56.060: Unlawful Interference w/ Election (Class C Felony)
    Indicted Charge AS1556060 AS15.56.060: Unlawful Interference w/ Election (Class C Felony)
    Amended Charge
    DV Related? No
    Modifiers None
    Stage Date 07/30/2024
    ATN # 118830267
    Tracking # 005
    Offense Location Pilot Station
    Date of Offense 10/02/2023
    Borromeo, Ruthie

    – Defendant
    Charge # 6: AS1556060 – Class C Felony AS15.56.060: Unlawful Interference w/ Election
    Original Charge AS1556060 AS15.56.060: Unlawful Interference w/ Election (Class C Felony)
    Indicted Charge AS1556060 AS15.56.060: Unlawful Interference w/ Election (Class C Felony)
    Amended Charge
    DV Related? No
    Modifiers None
    Stage Date 07/30/2024
    ATN # 118830267
    Tracking # 006
    Offense Location Pilot Station
    Date of Offense 10/02/2023
    Borromeo, Ruthie

    – Defendant
    Charge # 7: AS1556070 – Class C Felony AS15.56.070: Election Official Misconduct 1
    Original Charge AS1556070 AS15.56.070: Election Official Misconduct 1 (Class C Felony)
    Indicted Charge AS1556070 AS15.56.070: Election Official Misconduct 1 (Class C Felony)
    Amended Charge
    DV Related? No
    Modifiers None
    Stage Date 07/30/2024
    ATN # 118830267
    Tracking # 007
    Offense Location Pilot Station
    Date of Offense 10/02/2023
    Borromeo, Ruthie

    – Defendant
    Charge # 8: AS1556070 – Class C Felony AS15.56.070: Election Official Misconduct 1
    Original Charge AS1556070 AS15.56.070: Election Official Misconduct 1 (Class C Felony)
    Indicted Charge AS1556070 AS15.56.070: Election Official Misconduct 1 (Class C Felony)
    Amended Charge
    DV Related? No
    Modifiers None
    Stage Date 07/30/2024
    ATN # 118830267
    Tracking # 008
    Offense Location Pilot Station
    Date of Offense 10/02/2023
    Borromeo, Ruthie

    – Defendant
    Charge # 9: AS1156820a1 – Class A Misdemeanor AS11.56.820(a)(1): Tamper Publ Recrds 2- False Entry,Alter
    Original Charge AS1156820A1 AS11.56.820(a)(1): Tamper Publ Recrds 2- False Entry,Alter (Class A Misdemeanor)
    Indicted Charge
    Amended Charge
    DV Related? No
    Modifiers None
    Stage Date 03/19/2025
    ATN # 118830267
    Tracking # 009
    Offense Location Pilot Station
    Date of Offense 10/01/2022
    Events
    Date/Time Location Type Result Event Judge
    08/20/2024 09:00 AM Courtroom 5, Bethel Courthouse Arraignment: Superior Court (Out of Custody)

    Peters in colorado sbould be given tbis sentence eh?

    Attorney Public Defender Agency (4BE) representing Defendant Borromeo, Ruthie as of 09/30/2024

    03/05/2025 Application/Request for Change of Plea
    03/06/2025 LOG NOTES: Omnibus Hearing
    03/17/2025 LOG NOTES: Change of Plea
    03/19/2025 Information Adding Misdemeanor Count to Indictment
    03/19/2025 PROOF OF SERVICE
    03/20/2025 LOG NOTES: Change of Plea
    04/12/2025 Motion to Stay Case Pending Appeal
    Attorney: Jenson, Maresa Anne (1805048)
    Filing Party: Borromeo, Ruthie
    Case Motion #1
    04/12/2025 PROOF OF SERVICE
    05/12/2025 LOG NOTES: Change of Plea
    05/14/2025 Order Granting Motion
    Case Motion #1: Motion to Stay Case Pending Appeal
    07/14/2025 LOG NOTES: Status Hearing
    07/16/2025 LOG NOTES: Sentencing Hearing
    07/18/2025 LOG NOTES: Sentencing Hearing
    07/18/2025 Order to Probation on Suspended Entry of Judgment. Entry of judgment is suspended under AS 12.55.078. The defendant is placed on probation for: 1 year
    07/18/2025 Police Training Surcharge
    07/18/2025 $100 Suspended Jail Surcharge. Court will order defendant to pay the suspended $100 surcharge if probation is revoked and, in connection with the revocation, defendant is arrested and taken to a correctional facility or jail time is ordered served. AS 12.55.041(c).
    07/18/2025 Order to Probation on Suspended Entry of Judgment
    08/04/2025 Police Training Surcharge Transferred for Collection

    Hello Colorado – get ms peters out of jail… mary peltola and chicago are on a rampage of public fraud and their friends are writing their tickets w falsifying public records… alaska and kevin gottlieb all over again!

    • Electronic irregularities and fraud are misclassified. There are many “election irregularities” that are fraud. And the entire subject of election irregularities is ignored. Absentee voting always existed-there was a process for verification. Let’s go back to absentee voting.

      • Absentee ballot applications require evidence of citizenship, identity and have a list of checkboxes to select from to substantiate your need to vote absentee. To date, I have not seen a box that reads: In order to commit election fraud in favor of the femocrat party candidates

  11. Pritzker Fellow? Oh, that is rich. Peltola is a lightweight. She will accomplish as much do-nothing for the University of Chicago Institute of Politics as she accomplished do-nothing for Alaska. This is (D)emocrat cronyism at its finest. Or is that worst?

  12. “Peltola will also have to hold four hours of weekly one-on-one office hours (20-minute appointments) to discuss career advice or current issues with students.” Can you imagine sitting through 20 minutes of Peltola giving you career advice?

  13. If they are having Ms. Peltola as a Professor/advisor the Dems are in a lot worse shape then I realized.
    Sounds like commie summer camp.

  14. I think the structure of Alaska organization left out key titles to confirm the US Constitution in election process. We do not have a state of Alaska Secretary of State with job duties to confirm elections to federal status. Also it would be nice to say there is a new sheriff in town except the people got shortchanged in the Sheriff department top. How exactly can Alaska certify any elections when the new state left this responsibility out of the organization chart to date I believe with sad consequences as to the keeping of the republic goal.

  15. List one major industry operating in Alaska that is staffed with Alaska residents and keeps profits in-state. Forestry? Mining? Oil? Fishing? Tourism?

    Juneau is a cesspool of lobbyists, corporate interests, big money and greed. None of them give a s**t about us. Only themselves. And, of course, how much money and power they can milk from the state.

    The corruption and incompetence in Alaskan politics won’t be rooted out until the state capitol is moved from Juneau to a central location such as Wasilla where the majority of Alaskans have access to and can maintain oversight on their representatives.

  16. Grooming Mary
    I doubt Alaskans want someone groomed in Chicago politics to address our ever-growing resource and jobs challenges. Instead of advocating for real solutions, she has supported government handouts and turned a blind eye to the overwhelming street-life crisis in her own community since her time in Anchorage. Alaskans deserve a leader grounded in accountability, not imported politics

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