When Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola ran for the Congress seat in 2022, she danced around addressing whether trans-identifying men should be allowed in women’s sports. Fairness is important, she indicated, but she needed to learn more.

“I need to better acquaint myself with this issue, which I believe is more complicated than some make it out to be,” Peltola told the Anchorage Daily News in August 2022. “My starting point is that sports should be fair for all students, and we must protect the rights of all students – especially those that are already subject to significant discrimination. I look forward to learning more, and focusing on the many other pressing challenges the U.S. Congress is facing.”

Fast forward about a year to April 2023, when Peltola voted against the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023” — legislation prohibiting school athletic programs from allowing boys who identify as girls to play in girls’ sports. The bill, which passed the House of Republicans, would have made it a violation of Title IX for federally-funded education programs to allow men in women’s athletic programs.

When Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace put forward an amendment to that same legislation, which would have required a study on the effect that men participating in women’s sports has on women, Peltola voted against it.

She also co-sponsored the far-left “Equality Act,” legislation that would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to prevent “discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation,” meaning that individuals who identify as another gender could not be denied access to the locker room of their choice.

(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The Equality Act would specifically require public women’s facilities, such as women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, and shelters, to admit men who identify as transgender women. Critics have pointed out that women who are trying to escape violent men and seek refuge in shelters would then be forced to share living spaces with men who identify as women.

As “Must Read Alaska” reported at the time, the bill would apply to institutions like Anchorage’s “Downtown Hope Center,” a faith-based cold-weather shelter where women can seek refuge during the night.

Peltola’s positions may put her out of step with her home state. The Alaska Board of Education voted in August 2023 to block boys who identify as girls from playing on girls’ athletic teams. And the Alaska House of Representatives passed a law in May 2024 banning boys from playing in girls’ sports. The bill then went to the State Senate, where it is expected to die, but the House Republicans who voted for the bill told Alaska Public Media that they were prioritizing the issue at the request of their constituents.

“Alaskans are outraged by Rep. Mary Peltola’s misguided championing of the radical transgender agenda,” Cindy Glassmaker, an Alaskan mother of three daughters who play or played high school sports, told The Daily Wire.

“Peltola’s stance is a slap in the face to every female athlete,” Glassmaker added. “We’re not buying this woke nonsense that cancels women’s sports and hands women’s hard-earned rights to biological men.”

Great news!!! Despite the theatrics and a 17 hour filibuster from Alaska House dems, HB 183 (women's sports bill) passed in a 22-18 vote.

Good for @akgop and bill sponsor Rep Allard for holding the line. Now the bill heads to the Senate. Onwards! 👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/wwxT2BfJno

— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) May 13, 2024

Peltola did not respond to requests for comment from The Daily Wire asking for clarity on her gender positions.

Since 2022, Peltola has received about $6,000 from the Human Rights Campaign, which pushes transgender sex change hormones, surgery, and puberty blockers for children, and $5,500 from Planned Parenthood Action Fund, the action arm of Planned Parenthood, which boasts of being the “second largest provider” of transgender hormones like estrogen and testosterone.

Her opponent, Nick Begich, told The Daily Wire that Peltola is endangering the rights of women in Alaska.

“Mary Peltola’s reckless push to allow biological males to compete against girls isn’t just unfair— it’s a direct assault on women’s athletics,” Begich said. “Alaska can’t allow Peltola’s radical woke ideology to erase opportunities for our daughters, sisters, and mothers. It was our late Senator Ted Stevens who fought for Title IX and Mary Peltola should not be working to erase such an important part of his legacy.”

Peltola finished first in the August primary, coming in at 50.38% with 48,418 votes. Begich followed her at 26.98% with 25,930 votes, and Nancy Dahlstrom came next with 20.01% and 19,234 votes.

But NRCC polling released Monday found Begich “surging into the lead” against Peltola. Begich is now leading Peltola 44% to 40% on the first round ballot, with 10% undecided.

That polling found that the more voters learn about Peltola, the less they like her.

“Among those who have seen, read, or heard something recently about Peltola, a plurality of voters are left with a more unfavorable impression of Peltola.”

“Mary Peltola is taking on water despite her initial spending advantage, driven in large part by Republican ads highlighting her support for the Biden agenda and votes against Alaska’s veterans and those actively serving in uniform,” says a memo from American Viewpoint on the key findings of the Alaska survey. “If this trend continues, Nick Begich will be the next Member of Congress from Alaska.”