1973 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election

none February 2026 March 2021 1973 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election Alaska by-election no 1972 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska 1972 1974 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska 1974 March 6, 1973 Alaska's at-large congressional district File:Don Young 1973.jpg 150x150px Don Young Republican Party (United States) 35,044 51.4% File:Emil Notti, 1969 (cropped).jpg Emil Notti Democratic Party (United States) 33,123 48.6% 1973 United States House of Representatives special election in Alaska by State House District.svg 325px Results by state house districtYoung: #e27f7f 50–60% #d75d5d 60–70%Notti: #7996e2 50–60% #6674de 60–70% #584cde 70–80% #3933e5 80–90% Representative at-large Nick Begich Sr. Democratic Party (United States) Don Young Republican Party (United States) The 1973 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election was held on March 6, 1973, to elect the United States representative from Alaska's at-large congressional district. Incumbent Democratic Representative Nick Begich Sr. had won reelection in 1972, but had gone missing shortly before the election. Begich's seat was declared vacant by a jury and a special election was ordered by Governor William A. Egan. Don Young, who had lost to Begich in 1972, won the Republican nomination without opposition while Emil Notti defeated Chancy Croft and Begich's widow Pegge Begich for the Democratic nomination. In the general election Young defeated Notti. Young would go on to hold the at-large seat until his death in 2022. Background Representative Nick Begich Sr. disappeared while traveling on an airplane with House Majority Leader Hale Boggs on October 16, 1972, and was never found. However, despite his disappearance Begich defeated Don Young in the House of Representatives election.October 1, 2014 Five people have won election to Congress, despite being dead https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/10/01/five-people-have-won-election-to-congress-despite-being-dead/ live https://archive.today/20161010184908/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2014/10/01/five-people-have-won-election-to-congress-despite-being-dead/ October 10, 2016 On November 24, the United States Air Force announced that it would suspend the air search for Begich and Boggs after no traces of the missing plane had been found after 3,600 hours of searching had covered 325,000 square miles.November 24, 1972 Air Force suspends Begich, Boggs hunt 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253019/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611220407/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253019/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com Following his defeat Young asked Governor William A. Egan to call a special legislative session to speed up the process of the special election to fill Begich's vacant seat. According to Alaskan law a special election must be called by the governor within sixty to ninety days after a vacancy is declared.November 10, 1972 Young presses for Egan to call legislative session 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53236679/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611190849/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53236679/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com Three petitions calling for a presumptive death hearing for Begich were filed in the Juneau District Court, and was later transferred to Anchorage.November 29, 1972 State asks death ruling 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253758/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611221411/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253758/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.comNovember 29, 1972 Begich hearing moved to Anchorage 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253777/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611221418/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253777/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com On December 12, the six-member jury deliberated for twenty minutes before ruling that Begich and two other people on board the plane were presumably dead.December 12, 1972 Jury rules quickly following hearing 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253985/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611221911/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253985/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com On December 29, Governor Egan announced that the special election would be held on March 6, 1973.December 30, 1972 Young pleased to have date for special election decided 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53242505/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611193920/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53242505/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com Democratic nomination On November 7, 1972, after voting in the 1972 election, Pegge Begich, the wife of Nick Begich, stated that she was open to running in a special election to fill her husband's vacant seat.November 9, 1972 Mrs. Begich would consider running for husband's seat 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53252225/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611215244/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53252225/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com Peggy later announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination "if and when a vacancy occurs".November 14, 1972 Pegge Begich decides to run 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53252298/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611215245/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53252298/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com On December 20, she stated that she would spend $40,000 to $60,000 on the campaign.December 21, 1972 Pegge Begich promises 'real fight' for House 3 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53260482/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612000311/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53260482/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com The Anchorage Daily News released a poll of 22 of the 29 members of the Democratic State Central Committee. Eleven members supported state Senator Chancy Croft, eight were undecided, and three supported Pegge Begich.November 20, 1972 Demo poll gives lead to Croft 2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53263269/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612004854/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53263269/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com On December 7, Croft announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for the special election.December 9, 1972 Croft announces House candidacy 14 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53262285/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612003005/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53262285/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com On January 5, 1973, Emil Notti, chairman of the Alaska Democratic Party, announced that he would seek the Democratic nomination for the special election.January 5, 1973 Notti in Demo race for House 2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53268751/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612021255/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53268751/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com Fifty-one Democrats filed a lawsuit on December 5, to prevent the Democratic State Central Committee from choosing the special election candidate at a meeting. On December 7, Judge Edmond W. Burke granted a preliminary injunction while Notti filed an appeal.December 8, 1972 Injunction granted in Demos' lawsuit 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253441/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612171031/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253441/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.comDecember 12, 1972 Coghill explains suit to name Young choice 2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253574/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612171248/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53253574/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com On December 28, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled against Notti's appeal which forced the Democratic Party to select its candidate at a convention. The court ruled that a committee meeting to select the candidate would be a violation of the principle of one man, one vote.December 27, 1972 Decision due today on Demo's candidate 3 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53243823/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612171752/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53243823/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.comDecember 29, 1972 Democrats will have to convene 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53243831/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612171755/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53243831/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com Another attempt was made to appeal the ruling prohibiting the selection of a candidate at a committee meeting, but the courts ruled in favor of the 51 Democrats again on January 10, 1973.January 11, 1973 Democrat committee ban stays 2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53261175/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612172202/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53261175/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com On January 14, 1973, the Democratic state convention was held at the Gold Rush Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. Notti won on the third ballot with 108.5 delegate votes against Croft's 90.4 votes.January 15, 1973 Notti Demos' nominee 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53264737/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612011020/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53264737/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com On January 17, Notti selected Begich to serve as the chairwoman of his campaign.January 18, 1973 Pegge Begich to head House campaign for Notti 2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53264889/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612011022/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53264889/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com Following the convention Democratic National committeeman Cliff Warren announced that he would drop his appeal to the ruling baring a committee meeting to select the party's special election candidate.January 16, 1973 Democratic committeeman to drop candidate suit 2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53269084/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612172520/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53269084/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com Candidates Pegge Begich, wife of former Representative Nick Begich Sr. Chancy Croft, member of the Alaska House of Representatives (1969–1971) and Alaska Senate (1971–1979) Emil Notti, chairman of the Alaska Democratic Party Speculated Gene Guess, former Speaker of the Alaska House of RepresentativesNovember 17, 1972 Rader eyeing House race 2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53252743/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612004118/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53252743/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com Willie Hensley, member of the Alaska House of Representatives (1967–1970) Ed Merdes, member of the Alaska Senate John Rader, member of the Alaska Senate Declined H. A. Boucher, 2nd Lieutenant governor of Alaska (1970–1974)November 21, 1972 Boucher denies House bid 3 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53252911/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612005701/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53252911/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com John Havelock, Alaska Attorney General Results 1973 Alaska at-large congressional district Democratic convention third ballot Democratic Party (United States) Emil Notti 108.5 54.55% Democratic Party (United States) Chancy Croft 90.4 45.45% 198.9 100.00% Republican nomination Former Governor Keith Harvey Miller, Anchorage Mayor George M. Sullivan, former Commissioner of Natural Resources Tom Kelley, and state senators Clifford Groh and Lowell Thomas Jr., who had been speculated as possible candidates for the Republican nomination in the special election, announced that they would support Don Young for the Republican nomination. However, Sullivan and Groh stated that they would be interested in running if Young were to withdraw.November 22, 1972 Republicans throw support to Young 2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53240495/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611192020/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53240495/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com On December 2, 1972, the Alaska Republican Central Committee, with eight committee members present and eight committee members voting by proxy, voted unanimously to give Young the Republican nomination for the special election.December 4, 1972 GOP unanimous for Young 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53241649/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611192932/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53241649/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com On December 13, the Republican Party filed a lawsuit to receive clarification on Judge Edmond W. Burke's ruling that the Democratic candidate for the special election could only be nominated at a convention and not by the Democratic Central Committee.December 14, 1972 GOP sues for Young 2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53242904/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611194524/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53242904/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com The Alaskan government filed a motion to dismiss the Republican lawsuit stating that there was no conflict for the court to resolve, and on December 29, Judge Everett W. Hepp dismissed the lawsuit. Jack Coghill, the chairman of the Alaska Republican Party, stated that as the lawsuit was dismissed that the Republicans would not need to hold a convention to select their special election candidate as their method of selection for Young was not contested.December 23, 1972 State requests dismissal of GOP test suit here 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53243120/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611194758/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53243120/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.comJanuary 2, 1973 Republicans will keep candidate Don Young 2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53243563/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611195346/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53243563/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com Candidates Don Young, member of the Alaska House of Representatives (1967–1971) and Alaska Senate (1971–1973) Speculated Clifford Groh, member of the Alaska Senate Tom Kelley, former Commissioner of Natural Resources Keith Harvey Miller, 3rd Governor of Alaska (1969–1970) George M. Sullivan, Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska (1967–1981) Lowell Thomas Jr., member of the Alaska Senate (1967–1974) General election thumb|right|Don Young's congressional campaign logo thumb|right|Emil Notti's congressional campaign logo On January 9, 1973, Don Young filed to run in the special election, and stated that environmental issues and how Alaska utilizes its natural resources would be the major issues during the campaign. Young also stated that he would not resign from the state senate, but he would limit campaigning to the weekends when the state legislature was not in session.January 4, 1973 Young forecasts environment issue 3 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53244103/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611200302/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53244103/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.comJanuary 10, 1973 Young formally candidate 2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53243978/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611200303/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53243978/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com Jack Coghill served as the chairman of Young's campaign.February 15, 1973 Young formally candidate 6 Daily Sitka Sentinel https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53247646/daily-sitka-sentinel/ live https://archive.today/20200611205203/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53247646/daily-sitka-sentinel/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com Grant C. LaPoint, the chair of the Alaska Libertarian Party, ran a write-in campaign.June 1, 1973 Spotlight on State Parties 3 Libertarian Party News http://lpedia.org/w/images/4/4f/LPNews_1973-5_N14.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20220110100333/http://lpedia.org/w/images/4/4f/LPNews_1973-5_N14.pdf January 10, 2022 Young stated that he was promised seats on the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs by the Republican leadership. Young showed a telegram signed by House Minority Leader Gerald Ford showing the promise. Emil Notti stated that Speaker of the House Carl Albert and House Majority Leader Tip O'Neill promised him a seat on the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs.January 20, 1973 Young, Notti say committee promised 2 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53245588/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611202731/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53245588/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com On March 6, Young narrowly defeated Notti by 2,000 votes with 35,044 (51.41%) to 33,123 (48.59%) votes. Young was inaugurated into the House of Representatives on March 14. He would continue to be reelected until 2020 and became the longest serving Republican member of the House of Representatives in 2013, dying in 2022.March 6, 2019 Don Young: 46 years in an office he never expected to win https://www.alaskapublic.org/2019/03/06/don-young-46-years-in-an-office-he-never-expected-to-win/ live https://archive.today/20200612174240/https://www.alaskapublic.org/2019/03/06/don-young-46-years-in-an-office-he-never-expected-to-win/ June 12, 2020October 31, 2013 Alaska's Don Young longest serving Republican in House https://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/don-young-alaska-longest-serving-house-republican-099158 live https://archive.today/20200612174243/https://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/don-young-alaska-longest-serving-house-republican-099158 June 12, 2020 Results 1973 Alaska at-large congressional district special electionElection Results https://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/Archive/73SPEC/73specreturns.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20200331083218/http://www.elections.alaska.gov/Core/Archive/73SPEC/73specreturns.pdf 2020-03-31 Republican Party (United States) Don Young 35,044 51.41% +7.65% Democratic Party (United States) Emil Notti 33,123 48.59% -7.65% 68,167 100.00% Endorsements Begich Endorsements Organizations Democratic Southeast District CommitteeDecember 30, 1972 Southeast Demos back Mrs. Begich 3 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53261047/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612003321/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53261047/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com Notti Endorsements Organizations Fairbanks Central Labor CouncilFebruary 2, 1973 Emil Notti endorsed by Central Labor Council 1 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53298056/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200612173005/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53298056/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 12, 2020 Newspapers.com Young Endorsements Organizations Alaska Medical Political Action CommitteeFebruary 9, 1973 State physicians support Young 3 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53246452/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611203555/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53246452/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com Kenai Natives AssociationFebruary 10, 1973 Kenai natives support Young 5 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53246441/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611203604/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53246441/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com Federal officials Ted Stevens, United States Senator from Alaska (1968–2009)February 12, 1973 Stevens view legislation for pipeline construction 3 Fairbanks Daily News-Miner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53246982/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ live https://archive.today/20200611204149/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53246982/fairbanks-daily-news-miner/ June 11, 2020 Newspapers.com State officials Tom Kelley, former Commissioner of Natural Resources Keith Harvey Miller, 3rd Governor of Alaska (1969–1970) State legislators Clifford Groh, member of the Alaska Senate Lowell Thomas Jr., member of the Alaska Senate (1967–1974) Local officials George M. Sullivan, Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska (1967–1981) References Alaska 1973 At-large 1973 At-large Alaska At-large United States House of Representatives At-large Category:Don Young Category:March 1973 in the United States Category:United States House of Representatives special elections in Alaska