1972 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska explained

Election Name:1972 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska
Country:Alaska
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1970 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska
Previous Year:1970
Next Election:1973 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election
Next Year:1973 (special)
Election Date:November 7, 1972
Image1:Nick Begich.jpg
Nominee1:Nick Begich †
Party1:Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:53,651
Percentage1:56.2%
Nominee2:Don Young
Party2:Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:41,750
Percentage2:43.8%
Map Size:325px
Representative At-large
Before Election:Nick Begich
Before Party:Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:Nick Begich
After Party:Democratic Party (United States)

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

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%.

Candidates

Results

General election

On September 6, 1972, Young challenged Begich to debate him, and Begich accepted on September 14.[12] [13] 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.[14]

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.[15] [16] 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.[17]

However, despite Young and Ford's statements, Begich won reelection with 56.24% of the popular vote against Young's 43.76%.[18] Begich never reappeared and was declared dead in absentia in December 1972. His body was never found.

Results

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: October 1, 2014 . Five people have won election to Congress, despite being dead . Philip. Bump. The Washington Post. live . https://archive.today/20161010184908/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/10/01/five-people-have-won-election-to-congress-despite-being-dead/ . October 10, 2016.
  2. Web site: Solender . Andrew . 2022-09-01 . Democrat Mary Peltola defeats Sarah Palin in Alaska special election . 2022-09-01 . Axios . en.
  3. News: February 11, 1972 . Alaska problems ignored in D.C.: Begich . 2 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610174759/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53170163/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  4. News: March 22, 1972 . Begich-Stevens race? it's being considered . 2 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610175021/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53170458/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  5. News: March 28, 1972 . Begich says no to Senate rumor . 3 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610175032/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53170271/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  6. News: April 7, 1972 . Young eyeing GOP nomination to House seat of Rep. Begich . 1 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610153104/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53161773/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  7. News: May 15, 1972 . Don Young drafted for House run . 3 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610153454/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53161943/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  8. News: May 22, 1972 . Don Young files for Begich's seat . 1 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610153754/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53162177/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  9. News: June 2, 1972 . Six filing statewide . 2 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610172147/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53168335/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  10. News: August 19, 1972 . About Bruce "Red" Stevens . 30 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610172150/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53168138/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  11. News: August 21, 1972 . Bruce Stevens Not Campaigning . 1 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610172411/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53168154/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  12. News: September 7, 1972 . Young asking debate series with Rep. Begich . 1 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610162924/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53164879/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  13. News: September 14, 1972 . Begich accepts Young's challenge . 1 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610162927/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53164996/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  14. News: October 6, 1972 . Guess not satisfied over debate . 2 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610163157/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53164814/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  15. News: October 19, 1972 . Campaigns suspended . 2 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610163715/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53165670/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  16. News: October 28, 1972 . Don Young resumes low key campaign . 1 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610163936/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53165676/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  17. News: October 31, 1972 . Ford urging Young vote . 2 . Fairbanks Daily News-Miner . live . https://archive.today/20200610165007/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53166139/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ . June 10, 2020 . Newspapers.com.
  18. Web site: General Election Results . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200331083247/http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/Archive/72GENR/72genr.pdf . 2020-03-31.

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