Did Rep. Mary Peltola just forget about Easter this year?
Peltola didn’t put together any kind of social media or press release greeting to Alaskans about Easter this year. Every other statewide political leader did — Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy. In fact, across America, political folks from both sides of the aisle acknowledged the highest holy day on the Christian calendar.
Even President Biden, who had declared Easter Sunday the Transgender Day of Visibility, wished the nation a happy Easter. And so did Muslim Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who wrote: “Wishing all who observe a Happy Easter in the #12thDistrictStrong and around the world. In this season of rebirth, may you and your family be filled with hope and prosperity.”
It’s a tradition, but not Peltola’s tradition, perhaps.
The last time Alaskans heard from their congressional representative on Easter was in 2021, when Congressman Don Young wished all of Alaska and beyond a happy Easter. He died on March 18, 2022, and Alaska had no congressional member that Easter.
Peltola, who jumped in last year to raise awareness for Trans Day of Visibility, stayed under the radar this year, not mentioning it on social media, as she had in 2023, shown at the top of this story. Biden, whom she endorses, got out over his skis when he made a major proclamation for the day, which happens to have fallen on Easter this year.
Peltola is traveling around Alaska for the Easter recess that Congress has every year. She was spotted in Homer and other coastal communities in Southcentral getting photos of herself for her campaign, and will be holding a campaign-style town hall meeting in Ketchikan on April 3. Congress reconvenes on April 9.
