For the 21nd time, Rep. Don Young, congressman for “all Alaskans” filled out the papers at the Division of Elections office in Anchorage on Wednesday to seek reelection.

Young, who will be 79 years old this year, has lived in Alaska since 1959. After Alaska congressman Democrat Nick Begich — U.S. Sen. Mark Begich’s father -- disappeared in a plane crash on Oct. 16, 1972, Young won a special election in 1973, and then a full term a year later, making him the longest serving federal Alaska politician still alive. 

He’s had some challengers throughout the years but has usually won his races by large margins. The closest anyone came to unseating him since 1990 in the general election was Democrat Ethan Berkowitz, who lost by 5 percent of the vote. 

Young will have at least four challengers this time around: Republican John Cox of Anchor Point, Fairbanks Libertarian Jim McDermott of Fairbanks. Democrats Doug Urquidi of Eagle River and Frank Vondersaar of Homer have also filed to run against Young.

In a presser following, he said that he doesn’t know any of his challengers, but he won’t take anything for granted, citing someone who once spent only $100 to run against him and received 38 percent of the vote.

In a written statement, Young said his “motivation today is as strong as it was four decades ago when I first ran for Congress. I want to continue fighting for Alaska and make this state a better place, not only for my daughters and grandchildren, but for all Alaskans.”

He said that he looks forward to welcoming a “Republican president to office and getting this country back on track!"  

Contact Amanda Coyne at Amanda(at)alaskadispatch.com