But some Republicans in Alaska are kidding. “We have 50 names from which Alaskans will have a choice,” Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a senior state senator who has long had a cold relationship with Palin, told CNN in Washington. “A lot of really well-trained people that no one else is talking about back here. Back home, it is. So this is your kind of bubble. I’m just telling you: You’re not in the Alaskan bubble, because Alaskans are talking about others.” . “This is a really difficult question,” Murkowski said. “Because years have passed.” Palin’s decision to enter the race to replace the late Don Young – who represented the state for nearly 50 years – adds a nationally prominent candidate to a field of nearly 50 people. And it reopens old wounds with some Republican critics who were eager to see the meager politician stay away forever after her abrupt resignation as governor of Alaska in 2009. Some of her opponents try to take advantage of the rift she left behind. “Many of the people I know were surprised that we did not realize he was still a resident of the state,” said Nick Begitz III, a Republican rival for the seat and grandson of the late MP Nick Begitz and his nephew. of former Democratic Sen. Mark Begich. “Most people have not seen her around. I have been to hundreds of events in recent years and I have seen her perhaps once. And that is true of almost everyone I have spoken to.” Palin still has a home in Washilas, Alaska – the small town where she was first elected to the City Council 30 years ago before serving as mayor. She then defeated Murkowski’s father, Frank, in the governor’s race in 2006. After being launched on the national stage as GOP presidential candidate Senator John McCain in 2008, she resigned three years after her four-year term. Announcing her resignation, Palin compared herself to a point guard who would unselfishly pass the ball to victory and save money from taxpayers by resigning early, as many complaints were filed against her. Many just accept the status quo, go out on the street, take the day job and milk it. “I do not put it in Alaska – I promised efficiency and effectiveness,” he said at the time. A Palin campaign adviser has complained about the former vice-presidential candidate’s long-standing ties to the state. “Sarah Palin would have the honor of serving Alaskan men and women in Washington and continuing the legacy of Don Young,” the counselor said. “He’s been a lifelong Alaskan since he was three months old, and his youngest son is still a high school student in Wasilla.” However, Republican critics of Palin in Alaska say she has not been involved in state politics for years, as she spent part of her time living elsewhere and traveling the country promoting her conservative goals.
Since leaving office, Palin has bought and sold homes in Arizona. Released the New York Times bestseller “Going Rogue”, filmed the TLC reality TV series “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” and the Sportsman Channel “Amazing America with Sarah Palin”, launched and released the online channel Sarah Palin and gave political comments. to Fox before her contract was renewed in 2015. She also asked questions about running for office, including Murkowski for re-election as senator in 2022, and videotaped a video of Murkowski shouting as the senator considered whether to support her. Amy Coney Barrett’s candidacy for the Supreme Court in 2020. (Murkowski ended up voting for Barrett.) Recently, Palin has criticized the effectiveness of coronavirus vaccines, saying at a conference hosted by Turning Point USA in Phoenix, “I need to get a vaccine over my dead body.”
“I will not do that,” said Palin, who tested positive for Covid-19 in 2021 and 2022. “I would not do better if my children did not touch it either.” In an interview this week, Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican who served as attorney general while Palin was governor, said he did not support the race at this point. “We have a lot of good candidates in the race, 50. He is one of them,” Sullivan said. “And what I’m looking for right now is someone who can fit into Don Yang’s headquarters as a fighter.” Asked if Palin would be a good companion at the Capitol, Sullivan said: “There are many who would be good partners and this is one of them.” Murkowski had a different answer to this question. “I will not do an analysis of it at this point,” Murkowski said. “I’m talking about all these other campaigns.” Palin angered Murkowski in 2008 when she was constantly advertised for trying to break up the “old boys’ network,” a reference to the senator’s father, and even flirted with the senator in 2010. Murkowski warned her at that moment not to question her. “I can guarantee it would be a very difficult election,” Murkowski said in 2008. Palin never ran against Murkowski. Asked about the incident and her relationship with Palin, Murkovsky said on Wednesday, “I’m not going to talk about Sarah Palin.”

A difficult road to victory

The 2022 elections could also be difficult. The top four candidates in the June 11 special election will run in the special general election on August 16. The winner will serve in Congress until January.
On Aug. 16, Alaskans will also vote in the by-elections, and the top four candidates will face each other on Nov. 8. The winner of this race for Parliament will win a full, two-year term.
Alaska elections are now a ranking ballot, where voters can rank up to five candidates.
Palin now faces nearly 50 opponents in her candidacy for Congress, including Begich. Other Republican nominees include State Sen. Josh Revak, former Home Secretary Tara Sweeney and former Sen. John Coggill. Independent Al Gross, who ran and lost the 2020 U.S. Senate race to Alaska as the Democratic nominee, and Democratic Assemblyman Chris Constand are also candidates. Young’s footprints are all over the race for his successor. Revak and Sweeney co-chaired Young’s 2022 campaign across the state and Begich co-chaired the 2020 campaign before announcing his 2022 candidacy against the MP. In interviews, Revak, an army veteran, and Begich tried to stand out from Palin. “I will not go to Congress to be incendiary,” Revak said. “I will go there to represent the Alaskans.” Begich added: “I think a lot of Alaskans recognize that a lightning rod style will do little to nothing to really advance the Alaska affair nationally.”

Conservative Republicans embrace Palin

In Parliament, Palin’s candidacy for Congress was warmly received by her potential GOP colleagues. Members of the hardline House Freedom Caucus – an invitation-only group that has transformed into a Trump loyalty club over the years – said Palin would likely find a welcome in their conservative crew.
“I’m glad to hear that,” said Montaigne’s first-year MP Matt Rosentheil, a member of the Freedom Group. “And I would expect that if he came to Congress he would be a member of the Freedom Group.” In an interview with Fox this week, Palin singled out Freedom Caucus as a group she would be interested in joining and praised the political upheaval she is stirring up.
“I have always been a big fan of Freedom Caucus,” Palin said. “I have always felt them. Because they have been criticized, beaten and misunderstood. But they have the right priorities.” But it is not just the far-right group: the high-ranking Republican in the House of Representatives also praised Palin. “I’m a big fan of Sarah Palin,” said McCarthy, a close ally of Trump. “I was impressed. I talked to her again.” Republicans believe Trump’s support could certainly give Palin a foothold in the run-off, but they also note that he is already a national figure in conservative politics with a high reputation. “We can not ignore the fact that she has made a name for herself,” said Rosendale. Although Freedom Caucus members were particularly excited about Palin’s prospect of joining their ranks, some of them could only mock the blunders that often defined her political brand. “I know she could see Russia from her back porch,” Tennessee spokesman Scott DesJarlais joked when asked about Palin’s policy, referring to Palin’s impression of “Saturday Night Live” by Tina Fey. “But no, she is very conservative … I look forward to working with her.” This story has been updated with a response from Sarah Palin’s campaign. CNN’s Ted Barrett and Morgan Reemer contributed to this report.