Endorsements are made by the editorial board and reflect the opinion of the owners. The newsroom operates independently of the editorial board and is not involved in the endorsement process.

At this point, the election for Alaskas lone U.S. House seat feels a little like Groundhog Day: The cantankerous incumbent Rep. Don Young faces off against a fresh-faced challenger who promises better results for our state, only to fall short on Election Day, having failed to convince Alaskans that things would be better with a different hand on the tiller. Every two years since the early 1970s, Alaskans have opted for the devil they know rather than the devil they dont.

Calling Rep. Young the devil we know is admittedly unkind, but its true that the incumbent has a well-publicized tendency toward gaffes one relatively recent example: his dismissing of COVID-19 as the beer virus at the beginning of the ongoing pandemic outbursts and occasionally uncivil behavior. However, many find it refreshing that he speaks his mind, unconstrained by political correctness.

The reality is, Rep. Young isnt running to be our states chief medical officer, anger management counselor or health teacher. Hes running to continue representing Alaskas interests in Washington, D.C., where his experience, leadership and relationships convey substantial benefits.

Youngs opponent, Alyse Galvin, is making her second run at defeating him after a vigorous but unsuccessful effort in 2018. As a co-founder of the public education advocacy group Great Alaska Schools, Galvin has a passion for education and other social policy, and has pointed to the fact that she would be caucusing with the Democrats in Congress, who are likely to retain their majority in the House.

Galvin is right that being in the majority would ensure her a seat at the table when decisions are being made. But when it comes to how things work in Congress, Young has more valuable assets in his longevity and the relationships hes built over nearly 50 years in office. He has a mammoth record of advancing Alaskas interests, particularly with regard to resource development and infrastructure. Galvins energy is undeniable, but it strains credibility to think she would be able to reverse House Democratic caucus leaderships position on signature priorities such as oil leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuges 1002 Area, the construction of the King Cove Road or any of a number of similar Alaska resource and access issues. Within the House Majority, she would be a minority of one.

Given his age which hes happy to acknowledge, while at the same time boasting that hed bet on himself against someone 20 years younger Young is still energetic and sharp, and his capacity to do the work on Capitol Hill is largely undiminished. Critics point to his history of truancy from House votes, an unfair attack on an Alaska congressman who must balance spending time home in Alaska with his time in the Beltway. And hes been far more present in his most recent term, missing about 4% of all floor votes. Thats far from the best attendance record, but its better than at least one member of the Squad of freshman Democratic legislators making waves in the House, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. And if Rep. Omars absences havent hurt her clout, its hard to argue Rep. Youngs have.

Rep. Young admits he wont be in office forever, although his longevity could lead some to question that. He says hell happily turn over the reins when he feels he can no longer do the job well. That could be as soon as one term away, or it could be less. Alaskans will also be able to gauge whether they feel hes still up to the task. Don Young has clearly earned the privilege of another term. Alaskans shouldnt hesitate to lend him their support.

Continue reading here:

Alaska's lone congressman has earned another term - Anchorage Daily News