A top Republican member of the House of Representatives passed away in the airport on his way home.
Alaska Congressman Don Young, the longest serving Republican member of Congress in history, passed away on a Friday evening at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport after he arrived on a flight from Los Angeles International Airport on his way home.
Young, who was born in California and moved to Alaska in 1959, not long after it became a state, had served in Congress since winning a special election in 1973. The 88 year old was most recently re-elected to serve his 25th consecutive term as Alaska’s only representative in the House, and was gearing up to run for his 26th term.
The late-congressman was quite popular in his state, having won more than 70 percent of the vote on five occasions over the years.
Young’s cause of death was not yet determined.
His office released a statement following his death, which read:
“It’s with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we announce Congressman Don Young, the Dean of the House and revered champion for Alaska, passed away today while traveling home to Alaska to be with the state and people that he loved. His beloved wife Ann was by his side.”
Along with his wife Anne, Young leaves behind two children.
Young’s office also noted that they “will be sharing more details about plans for a celebration of his life and legacy” in the coming days.
“He was vibrant, he had a lot of energy, he’s very clear of mind, spoke clearly about what he wanted to accomplish, set goals that he wanted to make happen, and was happy to be running,” said Jack Ferguson, a lobbyist who served as Young’s chief of staff, according to reporting by Anchorage Daily News.
When he was first elected to office in 1973, Young won a special election to replace the late Rep. Nick Begich (D-AK). Begich died in a plane crash that also killed House Majority Leader Hale Boggs (D-LA), the father of late journalist Cokie Roberts.
Young was the dean of the House, the most senior member of either party, and was the last active member of the House of Representatives who was elected in the 1970s.