• Mark Begich is the Senator-elect from Alaska. Begich has been the mayor of Anchorage since 2003. After a two-week long recount, it was reported that Mark Begich had defeated incumbent Senator Ted Stevens by 3,724 votes, a margin of 47.8 to 46.6. This is a reversal of the initial vote count, which had Stevens ahead, 48% to 47%.MLive: Stevens loses race to Begich (November 18, 2008) Alaska Report: Rasmussen Poll: Begich Wins Alaska Senate Seat by 9 Points (July 21, 2008) Begich will be the first Democratic Senator from Alaska since Mike Gravel, who left office in 1981.

• 1. Born: 1962
  2. Birthplace: Anchorage, Alaska
  3. Member of the Democratic Party
  4. 1988: Elected to Anchorage city assemblyMunicipality of Anchorage, Alaska: Meet the Mayor
  5. 2003: Elected mayorMunicipality of Anchorage, Alaska: Meet the Mayor
  6. Re-elected in 2006Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska: Meet the Mayor
  7. First mayor of Anchorage who was actually born in the cityGristmill: What do Juneau? (July 21, 2008)
  8. Considers climate change a top issueGristmill: What do Juneau? (July 21, 2008)
  9. Supports drilling in ANWRGristmill: What do Juneau? (July 21, 2008)

• Senate Run

  Begich found a tight race with incumbent Senator Ted Stevens. Stevens lost ground in the polls after he was convicted of seven felony charges, and going into Election Day, the polls showed Begich leading by nine points.Bloomberg: Stevens Convicted of Concealing $250,000 in Gifts (Update5) (October 27, 2008) However, when the votes were counted, Stevens came out ahead by one percentage point. Due to the close nature of the vote, a recount was ordered. After the recount, Begich was declared the winner of the Senate race.MLive: Stevens loses race to Begich (November 18, 2008) Alaska Report: Rasmussen Poll: Begich Wins Alaska Senate Seat by 9 Points (July 21, 2008) Begich's win gives Democrats 58 seats in the Senate.Politico: 58 and counting: Stevens get the boot (November 18, 2008)

Categories