There is a complicated background story to Mary Peltola’s win over Sarah Palin in a ranked-choice, special election for Alaska’s lone Representative seat in the House. As is self-evident, it is not the first week of November. Today’s election is not for two years in the Alaskan U.S. House seat. Peltola’s victory was a special election to fill the seat until January 3rd. Peltola will again face off with the same candidates in November.

Still, the results were surprising, shocking to some.

From Axios:

Peltola’s victory is a major upset in a state that voted for former President Trump by 10 points in 2020, and it makes her the first Native Alaskan elected to Congress.

Peltola will also be the first Democrat to represent the seat in nearly half a century. Republican Don Young held it from 1973 until his death in March. She defeated Republican Sarah Palin, the former governor and 2008 vice presidential nominee who had Trump’s endorsement.

How it happened: Peltola advanced to the general election in the top-four blanket primary in June along with Palin and businessman Nick Begich, a more mainstream Republican.

With the win, Peltola becomes the overwhelming favorite to win the seat for a full term in November. Political commentators on Twitter were split between this being a sign that Democrats are surging versus Palin’s controversial and polarizing partisanship. Either way, it is certainly a win worth celebrating and a hopeful sign going toward November, where every single seat will count in what is now a toss-up for control of the House.

Congrats to Mary Peltola on a win in Alaska that nobody thought was possible just a few weeks ago. With her victory, she becomes the first Democrat to hold the seat in 50 years and also the first woman and Native Alaskan. And she did it by defeating Sarah Palin! Even sweeter! pic.twitter.com/TUHvJt9TWE

— Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) September 1, 2022