Rep. Don Young, longest-serving GOP congressman in U.S. history, dead at 88

(Image credit: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) died Friday at the age of 88, CNN reports.

Young was serving his 25th term as Alaska's sole member of the House of Representatives. He was first elected in 1973.

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Young was the longest-serving Republican federal lawmaker in U.S. history, with a tenure of 49 years and 13 days. He was the ninth-longest-serving member of Congress overall. The top eight spots are all held by Democrats.

"This is the congressman whom Alaska will remember forever. Alaska is a better place because of Don Young," Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) said.

According to Fox News, Young died at Los Angeles International Airport. A statement released by his office said that he was "traveling home to Alaska to be with the state and people that he loved" and that "his beloved wife, Anne, was by his side."

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Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Modern Age, The American Conservative, The Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.