WASHINGTON — Mary Peltola was sworn in Tuesday to the U.S. House, becoming the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress and the first woman to hold Alaska’s lone seat in the House of Representatives.
U.S. Rep. Peltola, a Democrat, won an August special election to serve out the rest of Republican Rep. Don Young’s term. Young died in March, after holding the seat for nearly five decades.
Just after 2:30 p.m. Alaska time, Peltola lined up with two special election winners from New York. They raised their right hands and took the oath of office from Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The members of the House and family and friends in attendance erupted in cheers after Peltola was sworn in, rising to their feet. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, took a picture of Peltola on the House floor.
