November 18, 2008
Posted: November 18th, 2008 10:00 PM ET
Democrat Mark Begich (left) has claimed victory over Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska.
Democrat Mark Begich (left) has claimed victory over Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska.

(CNN) - Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the Republican lawmaker convicted on felony corruption charges in October, appears to have lost his bid for re-election to Democrat Mark Begich, according to a release from Begich's campaign and unofficial results from state officials.

The statement and results Tuesday come two weeks after the election, after absentee ballots were counted.

With 100 percent of Alaska's precincts reporting, Begich, the mayor of Anchorage, had roughly 47.7 percent of the vote, compared with about 46.6 percent for Stevens, according to unofficial results posted on the Alaska Secretary of State's Web site.

He appears to have bested Stevens by 3,724 votes, according to the posted results.

Full story

Filed under: Mark Begich • Ted Stevens


Cynthia   November 19th, 2008 8:48 am ET

Such hipocrisy! I can't wait until they finally nail that piece of garbage Rep. William Jefferson. He should have been gone long ago. But I guess since he is a DEM connected with wrongdoing it is ok.

Glenn   November 19th, 2008 3:05 am ET

hey 3strikes. You're right that 60 doeasn't mean ALL Dems will vote together. Conversely, 40 doesn't mean ALL Repugs will vote together. You have Repug senators in Maine that don't have the political capital to differ too much with constituent wishes. You have Specter in Pennsylvania. So yeah 60 isn't everything but you better believe not all Repug Senators will vote the party line. Hell, with only 58 you'll still see at least Repug defectors. Sorry 3strikes but your point is now moot. Go sit somewhere.

Steve in Las Vegas,NV   November 19th, 2008 2:50 am ET

WOOO HOOOO!! And another one bites the dust! Best thing is now Palinstein can't appoint herself, so we are Palin free for at least 6 years...Just great

Note to Stevens, just enjoy the view of Russia from your house too! BYE!!!
Note to Palin, Don't count on being reelected as Governor. You have had your day there too!

Allan   November 19th, 2008 2:41 am ET

Gee. First God lets Obama win. Then God lets Stevens lose.

It appears that God has spoken and he doesn't want to see Sarah Palin on the national stage.

Thank you God.

Eddie   November 19th, 2008 2:34 am ET

LOL a close race with your opponent as a convicted felon. Truly Scary Alaska. Yay for another seat : )

Real Dem Abroad   November 19th, 2008 2:26 am ET

What is wrong with the people of Alaska who actually went out and cast a vote for a CONVICTED FELON? Brains frozen? Cripes. Well done Mark, roll on 60.

Richard Larson   November 19th, 2008 2:23 am ET

Maybe now the people of Alaska can expect that their public representatives will be a little more responsible in their representation of the state. The are still some bad apples, but they know who they are and if they exhibit even the vary basics of awareness, they will straighten up and do their job as they should. If not? Well, we can surely say that Ted Stevens was the first to be hoist on his own pitard, that scourge of all politicians, hubris and greed. Maybe even Sarah Palen will see the handwriting on the wall and leave office for a job she can handle.

Dexter Skagway   November 19th, 2008 2:22 am ET

When confronted with a choice between the corrupt multiple felon conservative and the liberal, almost half the voters in Alaska preferred the felon? Well, that explains Palin's career.

Beverly in NC   November 19th, 2008 2:01 am ET

Wonderful to hear that justice prevails again in Alaska – two corrupt politicians are now convicted and are both losers – Stevens and Palin.

Joe M   November 19th, 2008 1:57 am ET

Sorry Sarah...don't give up your pole dancing job just yet...6 more years and by then you will probably be with Ted in a jail cell..

Mike   November 19th, 2008 1:55 am ET

At least he didn't murder someone.........in a car.........on a bridge........oh, I forgot Democrats can get away with murder........

Joe M   November 19th, 2008 1:53 am ET

This scumbag needs an 8 by 10 foot jail cell right next to BUSH CHENEY, Rice and GONZALES..He is rotten to the core...The Republicans own him just like Cunningham and all the rest

McAllener   November 19th, 2008 1:52 am ET

I'm proud to be from the Rio Grande Valley. Out of the whole nation our area had the fortitude to stand up to Cheney. However, I know the DA will get torn apart for silly things he has done in the past. I can only hope this is the beginning of more to come.

Mernoush   November 19th, 2008 1:46 am ET

Thanks God that sarah Palin can't run for this senate seat. Hope Al Franken can win Minnesota as well.

JP   November 19th, 2008 1:38 am ET

That's one door Palin will not be ploughing through...Thank God!!!

Steve   November 19th, 2008 1:26 am ET

You folks can say "airhead" or "whack job", but I prefer my friend's word for Sarah Palin: "viper".

In any case, nice to see that the non-felon won in Alaska.

Bill,ca   November 19th, 2008 1:21 am ET

Re-count in Minnesota on wednesday?

Solong Sarah Palin.

Tana from Alaska   November 19th, 2008 1:21 am ET

Seems that a high number of Alaskans would rather vote for a felon than a democrat....or perhaps they voted so a republican could replace Stevens once he was sentenced? my guess is that Mark Begich is replaced by a republican in 4 years.....

Raj, Canada   November 19th, 2008 1:19 am ET

Adam V: Alaska is part of the "pro" or "real" America. Even with W has done to the USA, no less than 46 million voted for McCain-Palin

Pat in IL   November 19th, 2008 1:18 am ET

What's wrong in Alaska, that a felon could almost win the election for senator and an uneducated bully is voted in as governor?

Joe Green   November 19th, 2008 1:14 am ET

Glad that's over.

Can you imagine Senator Palin? Ouch!

Dylan, Los Angeles   November 19th, 2008 1:13 am ET

Stevens still gets a fat pension while he sits in prison. Good for Alaska to finally see the light and not re-elect a corrupt goon that got caught taking bribes from Big Oil.

Anonymous   November 19th, 2008 1:01 am ET

Now that the Dem's have laid the smack down on the Republicans
the country will be alright.

ls   November 19th, 2008 12:56 am ET

Let's say good bye to Sarah for at least the next two years...
It makes me feel sooo good.

Peter (CA)   November 19th, 2008 12:33 am ET

@Ken in NC

My apologies! Thank you for pointing out the error of my ways.

3strikes   November 19th, 2008 12:26 am ET

even with 60 democraps filibuster proof congress, theres still goin to be some democraps that wont agree with each other and vote with the repubs, SO WHATCHA SAY TO THAT!!! suck on that a one time. plus a democratic congress doesnt last long, history will repeat itself like in the clinton yrs

Adam V   November 19th, 2008 12:24 am ET

What's sad is that Stevens lost by only about 1 percentage point, even though he's a convicted felon.

What's wrong with Alaska? Is there something in their water?

tom   November 19th, 2008 12:19 am ET

another evil republican out--when we eliminate all the republicans and the people that think like them and vote for them,then this nation will be at peace and move forward into prosperity.

Jon   November 19th, 2008 12:18 am ET

does this mean sarah palin palls around with felons?

Marilyn Munroe   November 19th, 2008 12:17 am ET

Happy Birthday Mr. Sennnnnatoorrr

Woman from NY   November 19th, 2008 12:17 am ET

Oops! No Sarah, at least not for another 6 years! You know what ever is done in the darkness is always brought to the light. He's an old man but he still has to give an accounting of all of his shady ways.

Buh-Bye   November 18th, 2008 11:55 pm ET

Well Teddy boy, maybe they will give you a top-floor prison cell, poshly renovated courtesy of leftover funds from Caribou Barbie's $150K wardrobe kitty. Enjoy the view of Russia and that bridge to nowhere from the Alaska State Penitentiary.

Larry, Hazleton, pa   November 18th, 2008 11:45 pm ET

This whole thing seemed a little bizzare to me – just consider that Stevens could have been elected but could not vote – if thats not just a little nutz I do not what else might be.

I HELPED TURN INDIANA BLUE from Chicago   November 18th, 2008 11:41 pm ET

There's clearly something in the air or water up their in Alaska. It shouldn't have even been close... HE'S A SEVEN-TIME CONVICTED FELON!

But President Obama seems to be getting closer and closer to his MAgic 60... with two races still yet to be called.

Bill Chicago   November 18th, 2008 11:39 pm ET

How scary is it too just barely sneak in a win when you are running against a convicted felon.

SOUTHERN HOTTIE   November 18th, 2008 11:37 pm ET

Poor Ted. And on his birthday too.

He ends his legacy as a convicted felon.

How sad.

CanIcallyouJoe   November 18th, 2008 11:35 pm ET

I am a bit confused. A convicted felon is not in prison.

...how is this?

How has a convicted felon been allowed to remain in pubic office or anywhere where they could have influence over anything for so long!?

GA resident   November 18th, 2008 11:33 pm ET

I can't believe that Ted Stevens came this close.

This gives Democrat 58 seats in the senate. I think they will stop there. Georgia is too hard for democrats period and Coleman holds a slight advantage in Minnesota.

It's a new day!   November 18th, 2008 11:32 pm ET

Yey! Good riddins to bad rubbish, and take your pal Palin with ya! Go dems!

Amber   November 18th, 2008 11:31 pm ET

And then there were 2.

It's a new day!   November 18th, 2008 11:28 pm ET

Yeah! Good riddins to bad rubbish, and take your pal Palin with ya!

Ken in NC   November 18th, 2008 11:28 pm ET

From Senator to JAIL BIRD and atill serving the government.

Lyn in Indiana   November 18th, 2008 11:25 pm ET

Uh oh Sara Palin, now what? No "shout outs" from Congressional floor for you1

Ken in NC   November 18th, 2008 11:25 pm ET

@ PETER (CA )

Peter you should not refer to Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as a "Whack Job". You should know that "AIRHEADS" have not yet reached the level of "WHACK JOBS".

andrea from MA   November 18th, 2008 11:25 pm ET

i am happy now that sara palin will not be able to appoint herself senator !!!!!!!!!!! palin is scarey !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

james in s.c.   November 18th, 2008 11:24 pm ET

way to go alaska!!!!!!! that makes 58 and 2 more to go!!!!

oscar   November 18th, 2008 11:22 pm ET

are we nearing the "magical 60?!"

tatertaught   November 18th, 2008 11:19 pm ET

Good deal! That takes care of at least 3 little items. Not having to waste time in the Senate on Stevens; the Dems get another seat; and Ms. Wasilla can stay where she is. Sounds good to me.

Dawn   November 18th, 2008 11:17 pm ET

ENOUGH OF THE SAME OLE SAME.
Welcome down to the lower 48 and stay awhile but do right. Yo' 'ear?

mike   November 18th, 2008 11:17 pm ET

58 and counting...

La Chatte   November 18th, 2008 11:16 pm ET

Now, if someone could just nail Miss Wasilla '82 for something...

Oh wait a sec! I forgot! You can't vote if you're a felon, but you can be in the Senate, so even that wouldn't necessarily get rid of her.

Ghost   November 18th, 2008 11:06 pm ET

Only 2 more to go.

don   November 18th, 2008 11:06 pm ET

Good. Now Stevens can get on with the important business of picking out curtains for his prison cell.

Kathy in Minnesota   November 18th, 2008 11:02 pm ET

Yahoo!!!

That mesns Sarah Palin won't be running for that Senate seat. The means she has to remain Alaska's Governor for the next 2 years..

Peter (CA)   November 18th, 2008 10:59 pm ET

Good news. We get another D in the Senate, we remove a felon from the Senate, and we avoid putting a right wing whack job in the Senate (yeah, Sarah, I mean you).

Turnabout is Fair Play   November 18th, 2008 10:59 pm ET

Woops, guess that pretty much puts the nail in Failin Palin's ambition of becoming a senator so that she can set herself up to run in 2012 easily doesn't it. :-)

Darth Vadik, CA   November 18th, 2008 10:55 pm ET

I guess they couldn't steal this one.

Anonymous   November 18th, 2008 10:54 pm ET

Thank god! This whole idea is retarded! Stevens can't VOTE but he can be a SENATOR?!!?

FINALLY.

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