Democrats picked up a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after Sarah Palin lost a congressional special election in Alaska on Wednesday.
Mary Peltola won the election to fill the rest of the term of the at-large seat previously held by Rep. Don Young, a Republican, who died in March.
Democrats celebrated electing the first Alaska Native to serve in the House. She also becomes the first woman to hold the seat.
Peltola, who is a former state lawmaker, cast herself in the election as a regular Alaskan in contrast to the political star status of Palin.
“I’m not a millionaire. I’m not an international celebrity,” said Peltola.
She also was vocal about her support of abortion rights.
“It’s been very attractive to a lot of people to have a message of working together and positivity and holding each other up and unity and as Americans none of us are each other’s enemy,” Peltola said. “That is just a message that people really need to hear right now.”
Palin’s campaign was backed by former President Donald Trump and she was unabashed in her support of him as well. She rose to prominence when she became the vice president candidate in John McCain’s unsuccessful campaign for president in the 2008 election.
While Democrats currently have control of the House, most experts believe Republicans will regain control of at least half of Congress in the midterm elections in November. Having a Democrat win the Alaska seat gives them a slight advantage to win the seat again in the regular election.
Palin could still win the seat for Alaska in the regular election in November and serve for a full two-year term.
Young had held the seat for 49 years.
Here’s video of Trump endorsing Palin:
‘Complete and total endorsement’: Trump backs Sarah Palin’s political return
www.youtube.com