Alaska’s U.S. Rep. Peltola, along with her Democratic colleagues, opposed a GOP-led bill to add a citizenship question to the 2030 U.S. Census. The purpose was to ensure that noncitizens do not influence the official population figures used to determine congressional seats and electoral votes for each state.
The proposed question would not exclude any census respondent; it would simply seek clarification on their citizenship status. However, the bill faces slim chances of passing the Senate or receiving President Joe Biden’s signature.
Despite the bill passing the House by a vote of 206-202 along party lines, Peltola’s “no” vote caught the attention of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).
In a statement dated May 10, the NRCC highlighted that “Democrats openly admitted their strategy.” According to the NRCC, Mary Peltola’s recent vote supports the continuation of counting noncitizens in the census. This decision, as per the NRCC, grants sanctuary cities and states disproportionate representation in Congress.
NRCC Spokesperson Ben Petersen further emphasized that Rep. Peltola’s vote demonstrates a preference for prioritizing noncitizens over American citizens to gain political advantage. With border issues escalating and posing risks to American citizens’ safety and well-being, Petersen finds it unacceptable that Peltola’s actions do not prioritize her constituents’ needs.
