In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, gathers with supporters in Anchorage, Alaska. Young, the longest-serving Republican ever in the U.S. House, has won his 25th term. Young defeated Alyse Galvin in back-to-back elections for Alaska’s sole seat in the House. The race was called Wednesday, Nov. 11. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)

In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, gathers with supporters in Anchorage, Alaska. Young, the longest-serving Republican ever in the U.S. House, has won his 25th term. Young defeated Alyse Galvin in back-to-back elections for Alaska’s sole seat in the House. The race was called Wednesday, Nov. 11. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP, File)

Young wins 25th term in the U.S. House

Young, the longest-serving Republican ever in the U.S. House

  • By MARK THIESSEN Associated Press
  • Wednesday, November 11, 2020 10:48pm
  • NewsElection 2020

By MARK THIESSEN

Associated Press

ANCHORAGE — Don Young, often referred to as Alaska’s third U.S. senator because of his long tenure as the state’s sole representative in the U.S. House, has been elected to a 25th term.

Young, the longest-serving Republican ever in the U.S. House, was declared the winner of the general election on Wednesday after officials started counting more 150,000 absentee and other votes. He again defeated Alyse Galvin — an independent who won the state’s Democratic primary — after winning against her in 2018.

With Young’s victory, Alaska’s three-member congressional delegation remains solidly Republican with U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, who also won reelection on Wednesday, and U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“While we respect the doctrine of ‘every vote counts,’ the votes on election night, coupled with the absentee votes now counted, show a clear victory for Congressman Young,” his campaign manager, Truman Reed, said in a statement Wednesday.

Galvin, 55, had tried to portray Young during her campaign as having lost congressional clout and at age 87 no longer able to do the job effectively.

Young countered by calling himself one of the most effective members of Congress and said he still works hard for Alaska. “To my friends, supporters, volunteers, and the tens of thousands of Alaskans that voted for me from Utqiagvik to Ketchikan, you have my gratitude and undying appreciation,” Young said in a statement. “I look forward to serving another term as Congressman for all Alaska.”

Galvin was not ready to concede the race, with her campaign insisting that a turnaround in the ongoing vote count was remotely possible.

“With over 85,000 votes left to be counted and a 42,000 vote deficit to make up, the path to victory is narrow but still possible. We will continue to watch the vote count with hope and patience,” her communications director, Bridget Galvin, said in an email to The Associated Press on Wednesday. Young during his campaign tried to tie Galvin to liberal Democrats. An ad on an Anchorage city bus featured the face of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, with the words: “Alyse Galvin is on Team Pelosi.”

Young carries the ceremonial title of Dean of the U.S. House, bestowed upon the longest-serving member. The position has no official duties other than swearing in the House speaker.

He was born June 9, 1933, in Meridian, California. After receiving his teaching degree in 1958 from Chico State College, he moved to Alaska. He taught at a Bureau of Indian Affairs school in Fort Yukon, a small community above the Arctic Circle and where he still calls home.

Young is only the fourth person since statehood to represent Alaska in the U.S. House. The Republican lost to U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, a Democrat, in the 1972 election even though Begich and Rep. Hale Boggs of Louisiana were missing and presumed dead when their plane never arrived in Juneau on a campaign trip.

In 1973, Young won a special election for the seat after Begich had been declared dead. Galvin is a third-generation Alaskan who is an advocate for public schools. Her husband, Pat, is an oil executive and served in the cabinet of former Gov. Sarah Palin.

Young and Galvin have a contentious relationship. During a 2018 debate, Galvin complained that he hurt her hand during a handshake. Young countered she reacted that way for publicity.

Young has always said he won’t mind losing to a qualified candidate. But in an interview with the Anchorage Daily News, he called Galvin “incompetent.”

In debates in this year’s race, Young called Galvin by the wrong first name three times, referring to her either as Alice or Allison. She corrected him after one instance. “OK, Don, let’s start with my name, Alyse Galvin. Please show that kind of respect that we know Alaskans expect of all candidates running for Congress,” she said.

More in News

President Zen Kelly speaks during a meeting of the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education in Soldotna, Alaska, on Monday, July 7, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School board finalizes budget with deep cuts to programming, classrooms

Multiple members of the board said they were frustrated by the state’s failure to fund education.

Former KPBSD Finance Director Liz Hayes speaks during a Kenai Peninsula Borough School District budget development meeting at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
School district finance department earns national awards

The two awards are based on comprehensive reviews of the district’s budget and financial reporting.

Children leap forward to grab candy during a Fourth of July parade on South Willow Street in Kenai, Alaska, on July 4, 2025. (Photo courtesy Sarah Every)
Celebrating the 4th in the streets

Kenai comes out for annual Independence Day parade.

Fire crews respond to the Bruce Fire, July 4, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Alaska Division of Forestry)
Firefighting crews respond to wildfire outside Soldotna

The 8-acre fire and two “spot fires” of less than one acre each are located near Mile 102 and 103 of the Sterling Highway.

Robert Weaver was last seen at the Doroshin Bay public use cabin on June 25, 2025. (Photo provided by the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
Updated: Refuge ends search efforts for missing man

Robert Weaver was last seen near Skilak Lake on June 25.

The Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team conducts a training mission in Seward, Alaska in 2024. Photo courtesy of the Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team
Anchor Point fundraiser to benefit Alaska rescue and recovery group

Alaska Dive Search Rescue and Recovery Team is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization established in 2016.

Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic staff (left to right) Angie Holland, RN; Jane Rohr, Sonja Martin Young, CNM; Robin Holmes, MD; and Cherie Bole, CMA provide an array of reproductive and sexual health services. (Photo provided by KBFPC)
Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic releases report on STI trends on the Kenai Peninsula

The report pulls from data gathered from 2024 to early 2025.

Pool manager and swim coach Will Hubler leads a treading water exercise at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska, on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Swimmers, parents call on Kenai to support Kenai Central pool

The KPBSD Board of Education last week said communities will need to step up and take over administration of pools within the next year.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in