Tom Begich


Thomas Scott Begich is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Alaska Senate. He has represented District J since January 2017.

Personal

Tom's father was Nick Begich, an Alaska state senator from 1960 until 1970, when he beat future U.S Senator and Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski for Alaska's at-large congressional district. Nick disappeared as he was campaigning for re-election on October 17, 1972, while on a small plane flight in Alaska along with U.S. House Majority Leader Hale Boggs. He won his election over Republican Don Young, posthumously, then was declared dead on December 29, 1972. In 1984 and 1986, Nick's widow, Margaret "Pegge," ran against Nick's successor, Don Young, for the seat her husband had formerly held. Tom was a delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention. His brother, Mark Begich, served on the Anchorage Assembly from 1988 to 1998 and was the mayor of Anchorage from 2003 to 2009. Mark won the 2008 U.S. Senate general election, defeating 40-year incumbent Republican Ted Stevens, but lost re-election in 2014. Their brother, Nick Jr., is an author and conspiracy theorist. Tom's uncle, Joseph Begich, served 18 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives.