The Latest: Alaskans give Young 23rd term

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The Latest on Alaska’s U.S. House race (all times local):

11:35 p.m.

U.S. Rep. Don Young has won his 23rd term to the U.S. House of Representatives, and has spoken with his Democratic challenger Steve Lindbeck.

Young tells The Associated Press that he always asks people of Alaska if they want him to represent them. And he says, “they send me back.” He’s says he’s also proud that he’s never run a negative campaign.

Young was first elected in 1973, and the 84-year-old is the longest serving Republican in the U.S. House.

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11 p.m.

Democrat Steve Lindbeck is congratulating U.S. Rep. Don Young on his victory Tuesday in the U.S. House race.

Young handily defeated Lindbeck for a 23rd term in Congress.

Lindbeck calls his Republican opponent a “tough hombre” with the longest winning streak ever in Alaska politics.

The Democrat says running the race was a great experience. But he says he got caught up in the big wave rippling through the country on Tuesday.

A spokesman for Young hadn’t immediately returned a message to The Associated Press.

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10:30 p.m.

Alaska voters have re-elected Don Young a 23rd term in the U.S. House.

Young overcame a challenge from Democrat Steve Lindbeck, a former Anchorage newspaper editor and media executive.

Young touted his seniority in the House and has said the person to replace him should be young so they can build up the same tenure.

The 63-year-old Lindbeck had said Young’s long service to the state should be appreciated, but it was time for new blood.

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5:40 p.m.

Two East Anchorage voters have thrown their support behind the Democrat in the U.S. House race.

Steve Lindbeck is attempting to unseat U.S. Rep. Don Young, Young is the longest serving Republican in the House. He was first elected in 1973.

That longevity was not playing to Young’s favour with these voters.

Crystal Tyone is a 34-year-old personal care giver who is Tlingit and Athabascan. She says she’s just “tired of Don.”

Tyone also says she cast her vote for Lindbeck because she’s looking for something different from Young’s negativity.

Chris Vance is a 58-year-old contract specialist for the U.S. Air Force also voted for Lindbeck, saying it’s time for a change.

He says Young has “been in Washington forever, and he’s got exactly no seniority.”

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1:45 p.m.

South Anchorage voter Jeanette O’Brien says she’s been a Don Young supporter for more than 30 years and she doesn’t intend to change this year.

The 72-year-old O’Brien says Young has never steered Alaskans wrong and he’s been in office “forever” but that’s just fine with her.

O’Brien spoke after voting at Rabbit Creek Elementary School. She says as far as she’s concerned, the Republican incumbent can stay in office forever.

Young faces a challenge from Democrat Steve Lindbeck, who has the support of another voter at the same precinct, 48-year-old Christine Shaw.

Shaw says she absolutely did not vote for Young.

Shaw says Young has been in office too long, has made terrible decisions and does not show up for votes and other important House business.

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12:01 a.m.

The longest-serving Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives wants more time in office.

Rep. Don Young is seeking his 23rd term in Tuesday’s election. He first won the seat during a special election in 1973.

Young touts his seniority as a boon to Alaska, which has only the one House seat.

But Young’s main challenger, Democrat Steve Lindbeck, questions the 83-year-old’s effectiveness. Lindbeck counters that Young should have been able to do more for Alaska, especially because Republicans have controlled Congress much of the last two decades.

Young moved to Alaska in 1959 and was elected mayor of Fort Yukon in 1964.

Lindbeck moved with his family to Alaska when he was a boy and his father was stationed at the old Navy base in Kodiak. He’s a former newspaper reporter, editor and media executive.