Mark Begich facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mark Begich
Official portrait, 2012
United States Senator from Alaska
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2015
Preceded by	Ted Stevens
Succeeded by	Dan Sullivan
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
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, US
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 and business owner. He was a United States senator for Alaska from 2009 to 2015. As a member of the Democratic Party, he was also the mayor of Anchorage from 2003 to 2009.

Begich was born in Anchorage, which made him the first U.S. Senator to be born in Alaska. His father, Nick Begich Sr., was also a politician who served in the United States House of Representatives.

At age 26, Begich was elected to the Anchorage Assembly, a group that helps run the city. He later became its chairman. After two unsuccessful tries, he was elected mayor of Anchorage in 2003 and was re-elected in 2006. In 2008, he won a close election to become a U.S. Senator, defeating the long-serving senator Ted Stevens.

In 2014, Begich lost his bid for re-election to the Senate to Dan Sullivan. After leaving the Senate, he started a consulting company. In 2018, he ran for Governor of Alaska but did not win.

Early Life and Career

Mark Begich was born and grew up in Anchorage. He is the son of Pegge and Nick Begich Sr., who was a U.S. Representative. In 1972, his father's plane disappeared during a flight, and he was later declared legally dead.

Begich is one of six children. His grandparents on his father's side were from Croatia. As a teenager, he started his own businesses. He decided not to go to college right away because of his business opportunities.

When he was 19, Begich began working for the city of Anchorage. He was later elected to the Anchorage Assembly in 1988 and served for ten years.

Mayor of Anchorage

Begich as mayor of Anchorage

Begich ran for mayor of Anchorage twice without winning before he was finally elected in 2003. He was re-elected in 2006. The job of mayor is officially nonpartisan, meaning it is not tied to a political party. However, Begich was the first Democrat to be elected mayor of Anchorage since Tony Knowles.

United States Senator

2008 Election

Begich campaigning at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks in September 2008

In 2008, Begich decided to run for the U.S. Senate. He ran against the Republican senator Ted Stevens. During the campaign, Stevens faced a difficult legal situation. Just before the election, a court found him guilty on several charges. This ruling was later canceled because of mistakes made by the government lawyers.

On November 18, 2008, the election was called for Begich. He won by a very small number of votes. His victory made him the first Democratic U.S. Senator from Alaska since 1981.

2014 Election

Begich ran for re-election in 2014. His main opponent was Republican Dan Sullivan. The race was very close and watched by the whole country. Begich campaigned on ideas like expanding Social Security benefits for seniors. In the end, Begich lost the election to Sullivan and left the Senate in January 2015.

Time in the Senate

As a senator, Begich voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This law was created to help the U.S. economy during a difficult time. He also introduced a bill to help fund Social Security, a program that provides money to retired and disabled people. An analysis in 2013 showed that Begich voted with President Barack Obama's positions 97% of the time.

Running for Governor

On June 1, 2018, Begich announced he would run for Governor of Alaska. He ran as a Democrat against the Republican candidate, Mike Dunleavy. Begich lost the election.

Political Views

Here are some of Mark Begich's political positions:

• Energy: Begich supports drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He also believes that human actions are a major cause of climate change.
• Gun Rights: In 2014, the NRA Political Victory Fund, a group that supports gun rights, gave him a high rating of 79% (A-).
• Healthcare: Begich voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a major healthcare law.
• Labor: He supports raising the minimum wage and giving unemployed people benefits for a longer time.
• Same-sex Marriage: Begich is in favor of same-sex marriage.

Personal Life

Begich is married to Deborah Bonito. She is a business owner and was once the head of the Alaska Democratic Party. They have one son, Jacob. Begich is a Roman Catholic.

During his time in the Senate, Begich was the only senator who did not have a college degree. He has taken classes at the University of Alaska Anchorage. His brother, Tom Begich, also served in politics as an Alaska state senator. His nephew, Nick Begich III, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024 as a Republican.

Electoral history

Anchorage Assembly

Anchorage Mayor

US Senate

Alaska Governor

Images for kids

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  Begich (left), with Michigan Representative Bill Huizenga and Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, visiting military members at Kandahar Airfield in 2012.

See also

In Spanish: Mark Begich para niños