Election officials have finally called the U.S. House race in Alaska. Republican Nick Begich defeated Democrat Rep. Mary Peltola, helping Republicans maintain the majority going into 2025. Peltola defeated former Gov. Sarah Palin in a controversial ranked choice voting election to replace the late Don Young in 2022.
Upon the news of the victory, Begich issued the following statement:
Alaska’s potential is unmatched, but much work remains for Alaskans to fully realize that potential. I am committed to fighting for our jobs and economy, protecting our unique way of life, and ensuring that our voices are heard loud and clear in Washington. Together, we will tackle the challenges ahead and build opportunities for every Alaskan—because this is about much more than politics; it’s about improving the lives of all Alaskans who call our incredible state home.
Nick Begich becomes the first Croatian American House member since Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) retired in 2013. The Begich family hails from Podlapaca in Lika, Croatia.
Croatian Americans have a long history in the United States. While Croatian sailors from Dubrovnik (Ragusa) were among the earliest Croatians to participate in European exploration as early as the 15th century, the first significant wave of Croatian immigrants arrived in the United States in 1850. Many early Croatian immigrants settled in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois, and worked in coal mines, railways, and road construction. Today, researchers estimate that around 1.2 million people of Croatian descent live in the U.S., with significant populations in Chicago, New York, and California.
Nick Begich comes from a family of public servants: his grandfather, former Rep. Nick Begich, held the House seat before Don Young. His uncle, Mark Begich, was a U.S. senator, and another uncle, Tom, was a state senator.
Before running for Congress, Nick was the CEO and Founder of FarShore Partners and co-founder of Dashfire, a start-up. The National Federation of Croatian Americans also awarded him their prestigious “40 under 40” award in 2017.
Begich ran an excellent campaign, taking principled free market positions and earning the endorsement of the Club for Growth early on in the race. He also established his credentials by signing the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, of which I’m obviously a huge advocate!