Jump to content

1972 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1972 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska

← 1970 November 7, 1972 1973 (special) →
 
Nominee Nick Begich Don Young
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 53,651 41,750
Percentage 56.2% 43.8%


Begich:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Young:      50–60%

Representative At-large before election

Nick Begich
Democratic

Elected Representative At-large

Nick Begich
Democratic

The 1972 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska was held on November 7, 1972, to elect the United States representative from Alaska's at-large congressional district. Incumbent Democratic Representative Nick Begich went missing shortly before the general election, but still defeated Republican nominee Don Young.[1]

This was the last time that a Democrat won Alaska's House seat until 2022's special election, when Mary Peltola was elected to succeed the late Young.[2]

Primary

[edit]

On February 10, 1972, incumbent Representative Nick Begich announced that he would seek reelection to the House of Representatives.[3] He had considered running for the Democratic senatorial nomination against Republican Senator Ted Stevens, but chose to run for reelection and reaffirmed his intention on March 27.[4][5]

On April 7, Don Young, a member of the Alaska Senate, stated that he was considering running for the Republican nomination for Alaska's congressional district.[6] At the Republican Party's state convention, the party gave its support to Young, although he had not formally announced his candidacy for the House of Representatives.[7] On May 22, Young announced his candidacy after filing to run in Juneau.[8]

On June 1, Bruce Dickerson Stevens filed to run for the Republican nomination, but did not actively campaign in the primary.[9][10][11]

On August 22, the open primary was held in which Begich placed first with nearly 70% of the popular vote, Young placed second with 25.60%, and Stevens placed third with less than 5%.[12]

Candidates

[edit]

Results

[edit]
1972 Alaska at-large congressional district open primary[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Nick Begich (incumbent) 37,873 69.45%
Republican Don Young 13,958 25.60%
Republican Bruce Dickerson Stevens 2,703 4.96%
Total votes 54,534 100.00%

General election

[edit]

On September 6, 1972, Young challenged Begich to debate him, and Begich accepted on September 14.[13][14] Four or five debates were planned to be held between Begich and Young, but Begich disappeared on October 16 while traveling by airplane with House Majority Leader Hale Boggs.[15]

On October 19, Young suspended his campaign activities until Begich was found, but later resumed campaigning on October 28. Young stated that he believed that he was "doing what I think is best for the state" as if Begich was never found or discovered to have died then Alaska could not have a representative for six months until a special election was held to fill Begich's vacancy.[16][17] House Minority Leader Gerald Ford stated that Alaska would possibly risk its seniority in the House of Representatives and House committee assignments if Young was not elected.[18]

However, despite Young and Ford's statements, Begich won reelection with 56.24% of the popular vote against Young's 43.76%.[19] Begich never reappeared and was declared dead in absentia in December 1972. His body was never found.

Results

[edit]
1972 Alaska at-large congressional district election[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Nick Begich (incumbent) 53,651 56.24% +1.13%
Republican Don Young 41,750 43.76% −1.13%
Total votes 95,401 100.00%

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Bump, Philip (October 1, 2014). "Five people have won election to Congress, despite being dead". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 10, 2016.
  2. ^ Solender, Andrew (September 1, 2022). "Democrat Mary Peltola defeats Sarah Palin in Alaska special election". Axios. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  3. ^ "Alaska problems ignored in D.C.: Begich". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. February 11, 1972. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Begich-Stevens race? it's being considered". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. March 22, 1972. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Begich says no to Senate rumor". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. March 28, 1972. p. 3. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Young eyeing GOP nomination to House seat of Rep. Begich". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. April 7, 1972. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Don Young drafted for House run". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. May 15, 1972. p. 3. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Don Young files for Begich's seat". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. May 22, 1972. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Six filing statewide". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. June 2, 1972. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "About Bruce "Red" Stevens". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. August 19, 1972. p. 30. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Bruce Stevens Not Campaigning". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. August 21, 1972. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ a b "Open Primary Results" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2020.
  13. ^ "Young asking debate series with Rep. Begich". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. September 7, 1972. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Begich accepts Young's challenge". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. September 14, 1972. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "Guess not satisfied over debate". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. October 6, 1972. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Campaigns suspended". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. October 19, 1972. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Don Young resumes low key campaign". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. October 28, 1972. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Ford urging Young vote". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. October 31, 1972. p. 2. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b "General Election Results" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on March 31, 2020.