Mark Begich facts for kids

"Senator Begich" redirects here. For other uses, see Senator Begich (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Mark Begich
Official portrait, 2012

Chair of the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015
Leader	Harry Reid
Preceded by	Debbie Stabenow
Succeeded by	Amy Klobuchar
United States Senator from Alaska
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Ted Stevens
Succeeded by	Dan Sullivan
34th Mayor of Anchorage
In office July 1, 2003 – January 3, 2009
Preceded by	George Wuerch
Succeeded by	Dan Sullivan
Chair of the Anchorage Assembly
In office April 30, 1996 – May 5, 1998
Preceded by	Craig Campbell
Succeeded by	Fay Von Gemmingen
In office May 4, 1993 – December 7, 1993
Preceded by	James Barnett
Succeeded by	Dick Traini
Member of the Anchorage Assembly from Seat H
In office October 4, 1988 – April 21, 1998
Preceded by	Brad Bradley
Succeeded by	Melinda Taylor

Personal details
Born	Mark Peter Begich (1962-03-30) March 30, 1962 (age 63) Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Deborah Bonito (m. 1990)
Children	1
Relatives	Nick Begich Sr. (father) Tom Begich (brother) Joseph Begich (uncle) Nick Begich III (nephew)

Mark Peter Begich (born March 30, 1962) is an American politician. He worked as a lobbyist, which means he tried to influence lawmakers. He served as a U.S. Senator for Alaska from 2009 to 2015. Before that, he was the mayor of Anchorage from 2003 to 2009. Mark Begich is a member of the Democratic Party.

Begich was born in Anchorage, Alaska. This made him the first U.S. Senator born in the state. His father, Nick Begich Sr., was also a politician who served in the U.S. House of Representatives. Mark Begich was first elected to the Anchorage Assembly when he was 26 years old. He later became the chairman of the Assembly for three years.

After his time in the Assembly, Begich ran for Mayor of Anchorage two times but did not win. He finally won the mayoral election in 2003 and was re-elected in 2006. In 2008, he ran for the U.S. Senate and won against Ted Stevens. Stevens was a very long-serving Republican Senator at the time.

In 2014, Mark Begich ran for re-election to the Senate but lost to Dan Sullivan. After leaving the Senate, he started a consulting company in Anchorage. In 2018, he ran for Governor of Alaska but lost that election as well.

Early Life and First Steps in Politics

Mark Begich grew up in Anchorage. His father, Nick Begich, was a U.S. Representative. In 1972, his father disappeared during a plane flight.

Mark was one of six children. His family has roots in Croatia, Poland, and other European countries. He went to Steller Secondary School in Anchorage. When he was a teenager, he opened a club for young people called "The Motherlode." By age 18, he had a business license to sell jewelry. He also helped his mother manage real estate. Because of his business activities, he decided not to go to college.

At 19, Begich started working for the Anchorage city health department. He also worked as a driver for the mayor, Tony Knowles. In 1988, at age 26, Begich was elected to the Anchorage Assembly. This is like a city council. He served on the Assembly for ten years, from 1988 to 1998. During this time, he was chairman for three years and vice chairman for two years.

He also served on the Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, which helps with higher education.

Serving as Mayor of Anchorage

Begich as mayor of Anchorage

Mark Begich ran for mayor of Anchorage several times. He lost in 1994 and 2000. But in 2003, he won the election by a small number of votes. He was re-elected in 2006. He was the first Democrat to be elected Mayor of Anchorage in many years.

Begich was part of a group called Mayors Against Illegal Guns. He left the group in 2007.

Time in the U.S. Senate

Winning the Election in 2008

Begich campaigning at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks in September 2008.

In 2008, Mark Begich decided to run for the United States Senate. He ran against the long-serving Republican Senator Ted Stevens. Before the election, polls showed Begich was ahead.

Just eight days before the election, Senator Stevens was found guilty of some charges. However, these charges were later dropped because of problems with how the case was handled.

In November 2008, Mark Begich was declared the winner of the election. Stevens accepted his defeat the next day. Begich's win was important because he was the first Democratic U.S. Senator from Alaska since 1981.

Running for Re-election in 2014

Begich ran for re-election in 2014. He won his party's primary election with a large percentage of the votes. The main election was very competitive. He faced Daniel S. Sullivan, who had been Alaska's Attorney General.

On November 17, 2014, Begich accepted that he had lost the election to Sullivan.

What Begich Did in the Senate

During his time in the Senate, Mark Begich voted on many important issues.

In 2009, he voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This was a plan to help the economy.
In 2012, he suggested a bill to change how Social Security is funded. It would have raised taxes for people earning more than $110,100 per year. This bill did not pass.
In 2013, he worked on a bill about gun sales. It aimed to stop certain dangerous individuals from buying guns. This bill also did not become law.
A report in 2013 showed that Begich voted with President Obama 97% of the time.
Representative Don Young from Alaska, a Republican, said that Begich did a "great job" representing Alaska.

Laws Begich Proposed

Begich proposed many bills during his time in the Senate. Here are some examples:

111th Congress (2009–2010)

Bills to help the Arctic region. These included plans to improve navigation, monitor pollution, and study climate change effects in the Arctic.
A bill to give tax deductions for donations to conservation efforts on Alaska Native lands.
Bills to change tax rules for prescription drug advertising and to offer tax credits for children's physical activity programs.
A bill to support renewable energy in the Arctic.
A bill to help promote tourism within the United States.
A bill to improve the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage insurance program.
A bill to help schools improve science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.
Bills to require special labels for genetically engineered fish and to stop their commercial approval.

112th Congress (2011–2012)

A bill to manage oil drilling revenue from Arctic waters.
A bill to improve teacher training and education standards, especially in rural areas.
A bill to make the Roadless Area Conservation Rule not apply to certain lands in Alaska.
Bills about gun sales, allowing interstate sales and concealed carry permits to be recognized in other states.
A bill to stop genetically engineered salmon from being sold.
Bills to create tax credits and loan forgiveness for early-childhood educators.
A bill to allow traditional whaling for subsistence purposes.
A bill to exempt some air taxi services from a special tax.

113th Congress (2013–2014)

A bill to help states create career guidance programs for students.
A bill to expand benefits for homeless veterans.
A bill to allow the Army to build deepwater ports in the Arctic.
A bill to remove the tax cap on certain incomes for Social Security.
Bills to expand tax credits for small businesses for health insurance.
A bill to allow employers to enroll employees in a federal health plan if other options are limited.
A bill to create a new, more affordable health plan option.
A bill to expand a tax credit for energy-efficient homes.
A bill to link veterans' disability payments to the cost of living. This bill became law.
A bill to make ID cards from Native American tribes valid for voting.
A bill to stop certain political groups from making unwanted phone calls.

Running for Governor

On June 1, 2018, Mark Begich announced he was running for Governor of Alaska. He was the Democratic candidate in the 2018 election. He ran against Mike Dunleavy, a Republican. Begich lost the election by about seven percent of the votes.

Committees and Groups

While in the Senate, Begich was part of several important committees:

Committee on Appropriations: This committee decides how the government spends money.
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation: This committee deals with things like transportation, technology, and oceans. He was the chair of the Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: This committee focuses on keeping the country safe and how the government works. He was the chair of the Subcommittee on Emergency Management.
Committee on Indian Affairs: This committee works on issues related to Native American tribes.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: This committee helps military veterans.

He was also a member of the Senate Oceans Caucus, a group focused on ocean issues.

Begich visiting military personnel at Kandahar Airfield in January 2012.

Political Views

Death Penalty

Mark Begich generally does not support the death penalty.

Homeland Security

Begich wanted to change the Patriot Act. He did not support the government watching people without a special permission called a warrant.

Energy

In 2008, Begich supported a system to control greenhouse gas emissions. He also supports drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Environment

Begich believes that human activities are a big reason for climate change.

Gun Rights

In 2014, Begich had a good rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund, which supports gun rights.

Healthcare

Begich voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. This law aimed to make healthcare more affordable.

Israel

Begich supports Israel. He was part of an advisory group for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a group that supports Israel.

Workers' Rights

Begich supports raising the minimum wage. He also supports extending unemployment benefits for people who are out of work.

Same-Sex Marriage

Begich supports same-sex marriage.

Veterans' Affairs

In 2014, Begich introduced a bill to increase payments for veterans with disabilities. This bill became law.

Personal Life

Mark Begich is married to Deborah Bonito. She used to be the head of the Alaska Democratic Party. They have one son named Jacob. Mark Begich is a Roman Catholic.

When he was in the Senate, Begich was the only U.S. Senator who did not have a college degree. He did take some classes at the University of Alaska Anchorage. His brother, Tom Begich, was elected as a state senator in Alaska. His nephew, Nick Begich III, is also involved in politics.

Mark Begich now works as a lobbyist for a company called Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

Images for kids

Begich as mayor of Anchorage
Begich campaigning at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks in September 2008.
Begich visiting military personnel at Kandahar Airfield in January 2012.