Palin quickly threw her hat in the ring alongside 47 other candidates to replace Young, who died in March. While the field is crowded, and Alaska has implemented a ranked-choice voting system, Palin's name recognition appears to be giving her at least some advantage in the race....
...A poll carried out by Remington Research Strategies for Must Read Alaska from April 7 to 9 showed Palin leading the pack of House candidates. The former GOP governor had the support of 31 percent of respondents while independent candidate Al Gross came in second with 26 percent. Nick Begich came in third at 21 percent. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.
Survey results by Change Research, sponsored by pro-Democratic group 314 Action, found Palin with 30 percent support in the first round of voting compared to Gross' 33 percent. After the second round, Palin tied Gross—with both candidates garnering 35 percent support. Notably, Gross ran as a Democrat for Senate in Alaska in 2020. The poll included 728 likely special election voters.
Another poll by Alaska Survey Research in early May showed Palin making the top four, but eventually getting eliminated in the ranked-choice system. That survey included 605 likely special election voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.
In the first round, Palin finished with 19 percent. Begich came in second at 16 percent and Gross finished third at just 13 percent. The poll then gave respondents four scenarios including Palin and three other candidates. In all four, Begich ultimately came out on top.