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(NewsNation<\/a>) \u2014 Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola edged out Sarah Palin and more than 40 other candidates last month to fill Alaska\u2019s lone congressional seat.<\/p>\n

She made history in the process. She is the first Alaska native to serve in Congress and also the first Democrat to hold that seat in nearly half a century.<\/p>\n

She says she\u2019s working on big issues for Alaska, including food insecurity, fish management, oil drilling, the environment and finding solutions to the effects of climate change.<\/p>\n

Another matter at the top of mind for Peltola is fentanyl deaths. The Last Frontier saw a 71 percent increase in fentanyl deaths from 2020 to 2021.<\/p>\n

Peltola says while it is a problem in Alaska, it\u2019s also a serious issue nationwide. She says her family and so many others have been impacted by drug abuse.  <\/p>\n