Alaska’s Senate Hopeful Has a Serious Attendance Problem

Here’s something that ought to matter more than it apparently does. Mary Peltola, the Democrat hoping to move from Alaska’s sole House seat to the U.S. Senate, has a years-long pattern of not showing up for work. We’re not talking about missing a few votes here and there. We’re talking about a consistent, documented history of absence that spans multiple offices and nearly two decades.

The numbers tell a story that campaign spokespersons can’t spin away. During her five terms in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1999 to 2009, Peltola missed 794 out of 4,265 votes. That’s nearly one in five. Let that sink in for a moment. If you missed one in five days at your job, you’d probably be looking for new employment pretty quickly.

Then there’s her time on the Bethel City Council from 2011 to 2013, where she skipped more than a third of meetings. Thirty-six percent, to be exact. Twenty-two meetings out of sixty. These aren’t ceremonial rubber-stamp sessions we’re talking about. City council meetings determine real policies that affect real people trying to live their lives and run their businesses.

The pattern continued when she made it to Congress. Between 2022 and 2024, Peltola missed 235 of 1,370 roll-call votes. That’s another 17.2% absence rate, remarkably consistent with her state House record. You know what’s interesting about consistency? It can work for you or against you. In this case, Peltola has been consistently absent.

Her campaign offers explanations, of course. Three children were born during her state legislature years, and she took maternity leave. That’s completely understandable and frankly admirable. Raising seven children while serving in public office takes grit. But here’s the thing about explaining away nearly 800 missed votes with three maternity leaves. The math doesn’t add up. Even generous maternity leave doesn’t account for missing 334 votes in a single two-year legislative session, which is exactly what happened during the 23rd Legislature from 2003 to 2004.

The campaign also mentions fishing. Apparently some city council absences happened during fishing season because Peltola spent summers at fishing camp. Now, I respect Alaska’s fishing culture deeply. It’s part of the state’s identity, its economy, its soul. But if you’re running for Senate on the premise that you’ll show up and fight for Alaskans, maybe don’t highlight the fact that you skipped municipal meetings to go fishing.

There’s something else worth noting here. During Peltola’s time in Congress, not a single bill or resolution she primarily sponsored became law. Not one. Compare that to Dan Sullivan, the Republican incumbent she’s challenging, who has gotten several pieces of legislation signed into law. This matters because it speaks to effectiveness, not just attendance. Even when Peltola did show up, what exactly was she accomplishing?

The Republican National Committee put it bluntly. Alaskans deserve a workhorse, not someone who can’t be bothered to attend. That might sound harsh, but is it wrong? Public service isn’t a part-time gig you squeeze in between personal priorities. It’s a commitment to constituents who expect their representatives to actually represent them.

Her campaign claims that excluding excused absences, she only missed about 6% of votes and advanced bipartisan measures throughout her tenure. But here’s the problem with that defense. Every absence can be excused if you’re creative enough with your reasoning. The voters don’t get to excuse themselves from the consequences of having an absent representative.

Alaska is a unique place with unique challenges. It’s vast, remote, and requires leaders who understand that showing up is literally half the battle. When you represent communities scattered across a territory larger than Texas, California, and Montana combined, presence matters. Engagement matters. Consistency matters.

This Senate race could determine control of the chamber. The stakes couldn’t be higher for Alaska and the nation. And voters are being asked to promote someone whose track record suggests she treats public office like an optional commitment rather than a sacred trust.

The excuses might be valid. The reasons might be understandable. But the pattern remains, stubborn and undeniable. Mary Peltola has spent nearly two decades demonstrating that when it comes to showing up for the job Alaskans elected her to do, she’s content to be absent far more often than any serious public servant should be.

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