Alaska Rep. Don Young is now the longest-serving House Republican ever

For most of its statehood, Alaska's lone congressman has been Rep. Don Young (R), 86, and on Wednesday, Young became the longest-serving Republican in House history, passing former Speaker Joseph Cannon (Ill.).

Young's 46 years in Congress — he has held the seat since 1973 — put him just a year and a half behind the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), the longest-serving Senate Republican (though Thurmond spent the first several years of his tenure as a Democrat). But both lag far behind former Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), who served 59 years in the House. Dingell died last month.

During a ceremony marking Young's longevity on Wednesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) thanked him for being "a leader of merit and character."

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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.