Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has endorsed Sarah Palin for Congress for Alaska’s one seat, now vacant since the death of Congressman Don Young. Haley is the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who is interested in running for president in 2024.
Haley is returning the favor to Palin, who backed Haley in 2010 for governor. Palin’s endorsement rocketed Haley forward to the front of the pack, after she had been trailing in the polls in the gubernatorial race.
Back home in Alaska, Alaska legend Perry Green has now endorsed Nick Begich III for Congress. Green, who has endorsed Congressman Don Young for his entire career, was honored as Alaskan of the Week by Sen. Dan Sullivan in 2019.
Green, a fur trader from Anchorage who has traveled the state to buy furs in villages and has rock-star status in rural Alaska, is also known as a world class poker player. He has played in the World Series of Poker in the 1970s, and has won several coveted bracelets, starting in 1976. His family business is David Green Master Furrier. He also has a long history of charitable giving and community service, always serving on boards of nonprofits and helping to raise funds for charities, especially those who serve military families.
Begich and Palin are two out of 50 people who, at this point, will appear on the special election primary ballot on June 11 to temporarily replace Congressman Don Young, and both will be vying for the regular primary on Aug. 16 for the two-year seat. The winner of the temporary seat serves until the winner of the regular seat is sworn in next January.
The election calendar:
April 4: Last day to withdraw as a candidate for the special primary election.
May 12: Voter registration cutoff for special primary.
May 20: Ballots mailed out to voters for special primary.
May 27: Absentee voting centers open across the state for special primary for in-person voters.
June 11: Election Day for special primary. Mail-in ballots must be have June 11 postmark on them to be accepted. Top four candidates proceed to the special general election.
June 25: Target date for certifying the special election.
Aug. 16: Special election regular election, concurrent with regular election primary for two-year seat.
Nov. 8: Election Day
