Native Alaskan at top of field for U.S. Congressional seat for Alaska, but has anyone noticed she's rural

The New York Times reports on the surprising strength of the candidacy of Mary Peltola, the Democrat leading the race to replace Don Young (R), who was the state's only congressperson when he died in March.  While the Times and other outlets are talking about Peltola's identity as Alaska native (Yup'ik), the paper did not mention that she is from Alaska's quintessential rural place, Bethel.  (Other posts about Bethel are here, here, here, here, here, and here). I found that detail in the coverage of the Anchorage Daily News.  The Times notes that 15% of Alaska voters are Alaska native, and further reported these details of the election:   

Ms. Peltola, 48, took 37.8 percent of the vote in the special election to fill Alaska’s lone congressional seat through January, putting her more than five percentage points ahead of Ms. Palin, the state’s former governor and 2008 vice-presidential Republican nominee. Ms. Peltola was also leading Ms. Palin by nearly four percentage votes in the primary race to fill that seat beyond 2023.

A win in the special election could provide a major boost in name recognition and momentum for Ms. Peltola, who has quickly risen to prominence since placing fourth in a June special election primary. On Tuesday, Ms. Peltola mingled with supporters at an Anchorage brewery as the results rolled in.

“It’s just really overwhelming to see the kind of support that I’m getting,” she said. “I am hopeful.”

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Ms. Peltola...has strongly championed abortion rights, called for higher taxes on the wealthy and has sought an approach to development of Alaska’s resources focused on sustaining communities over corporate interests. As a Yup’ik woman, she has said a “pro-family ethic” shapes her identity.

And in the strange bedfellows department: 

[I]nfighting [among Republicans] appeared to give Ms. Peltola an edge as she campaigned on bipartisanship and healing divisions.

She and Ms. Palin have had a warm relationship since the two were expectant young mothers when Ms. Palin was governor and Ms. Peltola was still serving in the State Legislature. At a candidate forum hosted by The Anchorage Daily News, Ms. Palin even pointed to Ms. Peltola when asked whom she would rank second on the ballot. On Tuesday, Ms. Peltola said Ms. Palin had texted her that morning to wish her well and remind her to dress warmly.

From the Anchorage Daily News is this bit of analysis regarding the election to fill the seat starting in January, which Peltola also leads: 

John-Henry Heckendorn, a political consultant who runs Ship Creek Group, which has advised Peltola’s campaign, said the results are particularly encouraging for the Democrat’s campaign. Rural Alaskans and progressives — two groups that are likely to favor Peltola — have higher turnout in the November election. And Peltola has had less money to spend on getting her name out there, meaning that there are still many voters who aren’t familiar with her, he said.

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Peltola worked on fishery and food security policy in rural Alaska before announcing her congressional run; her campaign ads tout her as the only candidate in the race who is not a millionaire.

Here is the coverage by Indian Country Today.