Nick Begich

Nick Begich III
Born	Template:Birth year and age
Birthplace	United States
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	U.S. Representative from Alaska's at-large congressional district

Nicholas J. Begich III (born 1977) is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. Representative for Alaska's at-large congressional district since January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Begich represents the entirety of the state of Alaska in the United States House of Representatives. He is the grandson of Nick Begich Sr., who served as Alaska's at-large representative from 1971 until his presumed death in a plane disappearance in 1972, making the younger Begich part of one of Alaska's most prominent political families. Since taking office, Begich has focused on issues related to Alaska's natural resources, energy development, and federal land policy, working within the House Committee on Natural Resources and aligning closely with the legislative priorities of President Donald Trump during the 119th Congress.

Early Life

Nicholas J. Begich III was born in 1977 into one of Alaska's most recognized political dynasties. His grandfather, Nick Begich Sr., was a Democrat who represented Alaska in Congress from 1971 to 1972. The elder Begich disappeared on October 16, 1972, when the Cessna 310 in which he was traveling with House Majority Leader Hale Boggs vanished during a flight from Anchorage to Juneau. Neither the aircraft nor the remains of any of the four occupants were ever recovered. Despite the family's deep Democratic roots — his uncle, Mark Begich, served as mayor of Anchorage and as a U.S. Senator from Alaska — Nick Begich III pursued politics as a Republican.

Begich grew up in Alaska and developed an early interest in technology and entrepreneurship. Details regarding his childhood, family upbringing, and formative years beyond the family's political background are limited in publicly available sourced material.

Career

Business Career

Before entering politics, Begich established himself in the technology sector and business world. He was involved in various entrepreneurial ventures, though detailed sourced information about the specifics of his business career prior to his political campaigns is limited. His background in business and technology became a central part of his political identity when he transitioned into public life, positioning himself as a private-sector candidate with experience outside of government.

2022 Congressional Campaign

Begich first ran for Alaska's at-large congressional seat in 2022, entering a competitive race following the death of longtime Republican incumbent Don Young, who had held the seat since 1973. Alaska had recently adopted a new electoral system featuring a nonpartisan open primary followed by a ranked-choice general election. Begich competed in this new system but was ultimately unsuccessful in the 2022 special and general elections, which were won by Democrat Mary Peltola, who became the first Alaska Native to serve in Congress and the first Democrat to hold the seat in nearly five decades.

2024 Congressional Campaign and Election

Begich ran again for the seat in 2024, once more competing under Alaska's ranked-choice voting system. In this cycle, he secured the Republican nomination and prevailed in the general election, defeating the incumbent Peltola. His victory returned the seat to Republican control and, in a notable historical parallel, placed a Begich back in Alaska's at-large congressional seat more than fifty years after his grandfather had held the same position. Begich took office in January 2025 as a member of the 119th Congress.

Tenure in Congress

Natural Resources and Energy Policy

A significant focus of Begich's congressional tenure has been the advancement of Alaska's natural resource development and energy production. In December 2025, Begich joined President Donald Trump in the Oval Office for the signing of H.J. Res. 131 and H.J. Res. 106, which the congressman described as measures "advancing Alaska's resource future."

In February 2026, Begich participated in a congressional investigation into non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that had targeted ConocoPhillips' Willow oil project on Alaska's North Slope. The investigation was led by House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chairman Paul Gosar, and Begich. The inquiry examined the activities of NGOs that had sought to block or delay the Willow Project, a major oil drilling initiative on federal land in Alaska that had been a subject of significant political and environmental debate.

Legislative Activity

Begich has supported several pieces of legislation aligned with the Republican majority's priorities in the 119th Congress. In February 2026, he released a statement celebrating the House passage of the SAVE America Act, characterizing the legislation as a significant achievement.

The National Republican Congressional Committee highlighted Begich's role in the passage of what it described as "the largest middle-class tax cut in history," crediting both President Trump and Congressman Begich with delivering economic benefits to Alaskan working families.

Constituent Services and Military Nominations

As Alaska's sole representative in the House, Begich has carried out the traditional constituent-service functions of the office, including nominating candidates to U.S. military service academies. In February 2026, he announced his 2026 service academy nominations, selecting candidates for admission consideration at four academies: the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

In February 2026, ahead of the State of the Union address, Begich announced that his guest for the event would be Norann Kriner, owner of Kriner's Diner, a restaurant in Anchorage, Alaska. The selection of a small-business owner as his guest reflected Begich's emphasis on private enterprise and the concerns of Alaska's business community.

2026 Election Cycle

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Begich faces prospective challengers for his seat. In October 2025, Anchorage pastor Matt Schultz, a registered Democrat, announced his candidacy to challenge Begich in the 2026 U.S. House race. Schultz was reported to be the second person to register as an opponent for Begich in the upcoming election cycle.

Personal Life

Begich is a member of one of Alaska's most prominent political families. His grandfather, Nick Begich Sr., served as Alaska's at-large U.S. Representative until his disappearance in 1972. His uncle, Mark Begich, served as the mayor of Anchorage from 2003 to 2009 and as a U.S. Senator from Alaska from 2009 to 2015. Despite the family's longstanding association with the Democratic Party, Nick Begich III has identified and run for office as a Republican, representing a significant partisan divergence within the family.

Begich resides in Alaska. Detailed publicly documented information regarding his personal life, including family status, beyond his political lineage is limited in available sourced material.

Legacy

Nick Begich III's election to Alaska's at-large congressional seat in 2024 marked a notable moment in Alaska political history. More than fifty years after his grandfather Nick Begich Sr. held the same office, the younger Begich restored the family name to Alaska's sole House seat, albeit representing a different political party. The elder Begich had served as a Democrat; the grandson serves as a Republican. This generational and partisan shift within a single political family reflects broader realignments in Alaska and national politics over the latter half of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first.

Begich's election also took place under Alaska's ranked-choice voting system, which had been adopted by voters in 2020 and first implemented in the 2022 election cycle. His ability to prevail in this system after an unsuccessful 2022 bid demonstrated the adaptability required of candidates operating under the nonpartisan open primary and ranked-choice general election format that Alaska uses.

His early legislative focus on natural resource development, energy policy, and opposition to environmental NGOs targeting projects like the Willow oil development has positioned him within a tradition of Alaska representatives who prioritize the state's resource economy and federal land management issues. As Alaska's sole member of the House of Representatives, Begich carries the responsibility of representing the interests of the largest U.S. state by area across all legislative matters, a role that has historically demanded a broad portfolio and close attention to federal-state relations on land, resource, and indigenous affairs.