Don Young Day in Alaska Date in the current year: June 9, 2025

Don Young represented Alaska’s at-large congressional district for 49 years, from 1973 until his death in 2022 at age 88. Born on June 9, 1933 in California, he moved to Alaska in 1959, shortly after it became a state. Young worked in construction, gold mining, fishing, and trapping. He also captained a tugboat, delivering supplies and products to villages along the Yukon River, and taught at a local elementary school during the winter.

In 1964, Young embarked on a career in politics. He was elected mayor of Fort Yukon and served until 1968. He also ran for the Alaska House of Representatives in 1964 but was not elected. Young then served in the state House of Representatives from 1967 to 1971 and in the state Senate from 1971 to 1973.

His first wife encouraged him to run for Congress in 1972. Despite Democratic Representative Nick Begich Sr.’s plane disappearing en route from Anchorage to Juneau shortly before the election, Young lost the election to Begich. In December, Begich was declared dead in absentia. A special election was held in March 1973, which Young won by defeating Democratic candidate Emil Notti.

After being elected to represent Alaska, Young was reelected 24 times, usually facing little opposition. When John Conyers resigned in 2017, Young became the dean of the House of Representatives, i.e. the longest-serving member of the House. Because of Young’s and Senator Ted Stevens’s long tenures (Stevens represented Alaska in the Senate from 1968 to 2003), Alaska was considered to have a much stronger influence in national politics than its small population size warranted.

Young was known for his vigorous advocacy of Alaskan interests, particularly regarding infrastructure, natural resource development, and support for Native Alaskan communities. He played a central role in securing federal transportation funding, promoting oil drilling in areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), and backing legislation that favored logging, mining, and fisheries. Young also championed Native land claims, rural healthcare, and maritime protections, leaving a legacy of prioritizing state development over partisan alignment.

Young died on March 18, 2022, while traveling home to Alaska on a flight from Los Angeles to Seattle. On March 18, 2023, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy declared the one-year anniversary of Young’s death to be Don Young Day, encouraging Alaskans to celebrate and honor the late congressman’s contributions to the state and country.

Nine days later, a bill to commemorate Young’s birthday, June 9, as Don Young Day, was introduced to the Alaska Legislature. It passed both the House and the Senate and was signed into law on August 26, 2023. Don Young Day is not a public holiday, but rather a day of observance.