Anchorage, Alaska: Seeking a 26th term in the US House, Alaska’s lone representative will face a challenge in 2022 with strong name recognition in the state.
Nicholas Begich III has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to challenge US Representative Don Young’s hold of the states’ lone seat in the US House.
Young is only the fourth person since the state was formed and Begich’s grandfather, US Rep. A year after Nick Begich won it in a special election, he was pronounced dead after his plane went missing in 1972 while flying to Juneau.
But unlike his grandfather and uncle, former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich and current state Sen. Tom Begich, all Democrats, Nicholas Begich III is a Republican.
“I think I’m hearing from the people of Alaska about whether they are ready to look forward to the future,” Begich, 44, told Alaska Public Media.
Young, 88, was surprised by Begich’s entry into the race.
I am working hard and running to win. Anyone is free to file, but the question is, who can best represent Alaska?” he said Monday in an email to the Associated Press.
I’ve always welcomed challengers to the race, but I have the experience and the know-how to keep things going for Alaska, said Young, who filed candidacy papers with the state election office in April.
Alaskans deserve effective representation in Congress, and I will work as hard as I have always to secure another term,” he said.
Begich also has close ties to Young, who served as president of the Congressional campaign in 2020, when Young defeated independent Alice Galvin.
Begich has appointed Truman Reid as his campaign manager. Reid was the Youngs Campaign Manager in 2020 and has worked in the Youngs Congress Office.
I have hundreds of former employees from years of service to our state. It’s unfortunate that the two didn’t want to be part of the winning team this time, said Young, who is the longest-serving Republican in the US House and the last remaining member to serve during the President Richard Nixon era.
Begich lives in Chugiak and is the executive director of a software development company. His grandmother, Paige Begich, lost twice to Young in the 1980s.
Others who have filed for a House seat with the Alaska Division of Elections or the Federal Commission are Randy Purham, Greg Brailsford and Shannon Scott Evans, all Republicans, and Chris Bye, a Libertarian. No Democrat has filed for office.
A voter initiative passed last year called for a single primary ballot, with the top four vote-getters going on to the general election. Rank-choice voting will be used for general elections.
Disclaimer: This post has been self-published from the agency feed without modification and has not been reviewed by an editor
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