Alaska's Don Young survives to hang on to House seat he's held since 1973

(Image credit: Facebook/RepDonYoung)

published 7 November 2018

Rep. Don Young (R) fended off an unexpectedly strong challenge from independent public education activist Alyse Gavin to keep Alaska's lone House seat. With 88 percent of precincts reporting, Young led Gavin, who won the Democratic nomination, 54 percent to 46 percent. Young, 85, is the "Dean of the House," or its longest-serving member. "He was first elected in 1973 and has represented Alaska for about three-quarters of the time it has been a state," The Washington Post notes.

After polls showed a tight race, the House GOP super PAC the Congressional Leadership Fund dumped a late six-figure investment into the race. Young won re-election by 14 percentage points in 2016, and President Trump won the state by 15 points. Young said his long experience in Congress was a plus, while Gavin argued he was out of touch with constituents.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.