In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola has beaten former governor and 2008 Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin in a special election to fill the state’s open U.S. congressional seat. She’ll replace Republican Congressmember Don Young, who died in March after nearly a half-century as Alaska’s lone representative in the House. Sarah Palin blamed Alaska’s newly adopted ranked-choice voting system for her defeat. It’s a rare statewide victory for a Democrat in Alaska and a possible sign of midterm election voter backlash against the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down abortion rights under Roe v. Wade. Peltola campaigned on reproductive rights — many have called this an early “Roevember” — and will make history as the first Alaska Native in Congress. She has voiced qualified support for controversial oil and gas development projects, including drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This comes after the state of Alaska sued the Biden administration, alleging it failed to act on its obligations to clean up knowingly polluted sites affecting Alaskan Native populations.