Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R) announced Friday evening that she intends to run for Congress, reentering politics over a dozen years after resigning as Alaska’s governor.
Palin announced her intention to run for the late Rep. Don Young’s congressional seat. Young died last month at the age of 88 after having first been elected to the seat in 1973.
“Public service is a calling, and I would be honored to represent the men and women of Alaska in Congress, just as Rep. Young did for 49 years,” Palin said in her announcement. “I realize that I have very big shoes to fill, and I plan to honor Rep. Young’s legacy by offering myself up in the name of service to the state he loved and fought for, because I share that passion for Alaska and the United States of America.”
“America is at a tipping point. As I’ve watched the far left destroy the country, I knew I had to step up and join the fight,” she added. “The people of the great State of Alaska, like others all over the country, are struggling with out-of-control inflation, empty shelves, and gas prices that are among the highest in the world. We need energy security for this country, and Alaska can help provide that – but only if the federal government gets out of the way and lets the free market do what it does best.”
“At this critical time in our nation’s history, we need leaders who will combat the left’s socialist, big-government, America-last agenda. This country was built by heroes, and the radical left dishonors their legacies by opening our borders to illegal immigrants, mortgaging our children’s future, and selling out our nation’s interests to the highest bidder,” she said. “I’m in this race to win it and join the fight for freedom alongside other patriots willing to sacrifice all to save our country.”
https://t.co/CrlfiG8MJn pic.twitter.com/uOwZVviLgr
— Sarah Palin (@SarahPalinUSA) April 2, 2022
Palin last served in political office in 2009 before she resigned as Alaska’s governor. Palin resigned less than a year after running as Sen. John McCain’s vice presidential pick in the 2008 presidential election. McCain and Palin eventually lost the election to then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) and his vice president, currently serving as president, Joe Biden.
In off-the-cuff remarks announcing her resignation, Palin recalled her days playing high school basketball and said, “I know when it’s time to pass the ball for victory.” Palin stepped down and turned over her office to then-Lt. Governor Sean Parnell.
Palin is making her political comeback entering a crowded field of dozens of candidates vying to be the next sole representative in the U.S. House for the state of Alaska. As the Anchorage Daily News reported:
More than 50 candidates had signed up by Friday afternoon, according to the Alaska Division of Elections, with more possible by the 5 p.m. deadline. Some candidates who’ve entered were expected; others were surprises; others have never been elected to office and had little or no experience in politics. The full list hadn’t been updated online by 5:30 p.m.