Nicholas Begich

Nicholas Joseph Begich III is a businessman and politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Alaska's At-Large Congressional District. A Republican, he was first elected to the seat in 2024 and assumed office on January 3, 2025. Born in Anchorage into a prominent political family, he is the grandson of former U.S. Representative Nick Begich Sr. and the nephew of former U.S. Senator Mark Begich. Despite his family's long history with the Democratic Party, Begich has been an active leader within the Republican Party, previously serving as the co-chair of the Alaska Republican Party Finance Committee and as a co-chair for Representative Don Young's 2020 re-election campaign. Begich earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in entrepreneurship from Baylor University in 1999 and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University Bloomington in 2002. His professional career prior to entering Congress was primarily in the technology and business sectors. He founded FarShore Partners, a software development company, and co-founded Dashfire, a firm that provides strategic and technical support to startups. He also held management roles at Ford Motor Company and served on the board of the Matanuska Telecom Association. His political experience includes serving as the board president of the Alaska Policy Forum, a conservative think tank.

Begich's policy platform emphasizes economic growth through deregulation and the development of Alaska's natural resources. He is a strong advocate for 'American energy dominance,' supporting projects like the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) line and increased resource extraction to reduce reliance on foreign energy. On the economy, he supports cutting government spending and 'red tape' to combat inflation and support small businesses. In healthcare, Begich has expressed opposition to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), voting against the extension of its subsidies while calling for patient-centered reforms to lower costs. He has supported legislation to improve veterans' access to healthcare and bipartisan efforts for youth suicide prevention research. Regarding immigration and border security, he advocates for stricter border controls and is a co-sponsor of the SAVE America Act, which requires proof of citizenship for voter registration. His foreign policy views align with 'America First' principles, including the use of reciprocal trade duties. He is also a vocal supporter of Second Amendment rights and has backed legislation to increase penalties for fentanyl trafficking.