By SUZANNE DOWNING
Oct. 8, 2026 – Mary Peltola’s leadership role in the Blue Dog Coalition came with a description that Alaskans may have forgotten: It was a “antifascist rural” group.
Antifa, but for rural folks.
One of Peltola’s fellow co-chairs said the Blue Dog leaders were rebuilding the Democratic caucus.
The remarks came from Washington Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez during a July 31, 2023, “Postcarding and Conversation” event hosted by the Downtown Nasty Women Social Group and Markers for Democracy. Fox News reported the comments on Aug. 10, 2023.
“So Jared, Mary, and I actually just took over the Blue Dogs,” Perez said, referring to Maine Rep. Jared Golden and Alaska’s then-congresswoman, Peltola.
“They basically lost some of their membership before we came in, and we are sort of rebuilding it into – Mary, Jared, and I – are rebuilding it into this sort of antifascist rural [group].”
The Blue Dogs’ coalition emerged after the 1994 midterm elections, when Republicans won control of both chambers of Congress. It formally announced its formation on Feb. 14, 1995, with 23 members.
Peltola joined during a rebuilding period. Politico reported on March 9, 2023, that she became the coalition’s eighth member after six lawmakers departed over a dispute about rebranding the group.
By May 24, 2023, Peltola had moved into leadership. The coalition named her co-chair for policy and legislative strategy. Golden handled administration, while Perez was responsible for communications and outreach. With Perez’s addition, the caucus had nine members. The group went from moderate to Antifa practically overnight.
The coalition’s official message emphasized fiscal responsibility, national defense, and cooperation across party lines. Two months later, Perez described their shared rebuilding project to an activist audience as “antifascist rural.”
For Alaskans reviewing Peltola’s congressional record, the episode adds context to her Blue Dog credentials: She joined a caucus founded by Democrats who believed their party had moved too far left, quickly became one of its leaders, and was then named by its communications co-chair as a partner in rebuilding it into an “antifascist rural” group, moving the caucus to the farthest left corner possible.
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