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Democrats Pick Independent to Take On House Dean Don Young in Alaska

Young is the most senior member of the House

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, is a Democratic target. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)
Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, is a Democratic target. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Independent Alyse Galvin won the Democratic primary to take on longtime Alaska GOP Rep. Don Young.

Galvin won 54 percent of the vote in the four-way Democratic primary, according to the Associated Press. Young also easily won his primary with 70 percent of the vote.

Young, who was first elected in 1973, is a Democratic target this cycle. But winning statewide could be a challenge for Galvin given Young’s name ID and the Republican slant of the state.

President Donald Trump won Alaska by 20 points in 2016. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Solidly Republican. Young was re-elected with just over 50 percent of the vote in 2016, but he defeated his Democratic challenger by 14 points.

Galvin led an effort in the state to pressure Alaska’s two Republican senators to vote against Trump’s nominee for Education secretary, Betsy DeVos.

Young does have a financial advantage in the race. He had $435,000 on hand at the end of the pre-primary reporting period on Aug. 1. Galvin had $252,000 in cash on hand.

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