Mark Begich concedes to Dan Sullivan in Alaska Senate race
November 17, 2014
In a prepared statement, U.S. Senator-elect Dan Sullivan said, “Earlier today I spoke with Senator Begich, who congratulated me on my election to serve Alaskans in the U.S. Senate.” Sullivan said, “I thanked Senator Begich for his service, and we agreed on the importance of a smooth transition process. The responsibility of representing and serving Alaskans comes first. I look forward to doing the job that Alaskans elected me to do, and to begin the process of turning our country around and building a brighter future for Alaska.” Sullivan said he is deeply humbled and honored to be chosen by his fellow Alaskans to serve them in the United States Senate. In a prepared statement after the General Election, Sullivan said, "Now, the real work begins. We’re going to get our country back on track and empower Alaskan families and communities to decide their own destiny. We’re going to unlock Alaska’s energy potential and roll back the avalanche of regulations crushing Alaska’s small businesses and making it harder for them to create good jobs. And we’re going to do everything we can to truly honor our veterans and protect the most vulnerable among us." U.S. Senator-Elect Sullivan is currently a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. He has served in the Marines since 1993 on active duty and in the reserves as a Marine infantry and reconnaissance officer. He is currently the Commanding Officer of 6th ANGLICO (Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company), Marine Forces Reserve. Following today's vote count by the Alaska Division of Elections, Begich had 127,860 vote (45.79%) and Sullivan had 134,071 votes (48.01%). The Division of Elections will continue counting absentee and questioned ballots this week. The target election certification date is November 28th. Begich, a first-term U.S. senator and former Anchorage mayor, called to congratulate Sullivan earlier today. Following the call, Begich said in a prepared statement, "Alaska is a place unmatched by any other, and the opportunity to represent Alaskans and all of Alaska's communities in the U.S. Senate has been a tremendous honor for which I am eternally grateful. Alaska deserves a bright future with expanded economic opportunity, equality for all Alaskans under the law, and a strong and prosperous rural Alaska. As a born and raised Alaskan, I will always be involved in my community, and the results of an election have never diminished my desire or passion to achieve these goals." Begich said, "I'm proud of the work my team and I accomplished to open the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska to development, to move forward Arctic oil exploration, and to protect Alaska's postal service. Saving the F-16's in Fairbanks, protecting missile defense at Fort Greely, and securing two new squadrons of F-35's for Eielson Air Force Base will spur the largest economic investment in Interior Alaska since the construction of TAPS." Begich said, "I consider one of my most significant accomplishments to be the new national model of caring for our veterans, allowing the men and women who served our nation to receive health care at local health clinics and hospitals without traveling to VA facilities. This accomplishment proves that Alaska is a place of unbelievable possibilities and that we never shy away from a challenge." "During this campaign, I put my record of delivering for Alaska front and center, and it's why this election was one of the closest races in the country despite over ten million dollars of attacks from Outside groups and their partisan narrative. These accomplishments are not red or blue results, they're Alaska results, and the final margin of this election and the clear support I received from independent voters affirms that." said Begich. Begich said, "When I spoke with Dan Sullivan today, I encouraged him to adopt a bipartisan resolve in the Senate. Alaska is ill-served by the partisan fights that don't reflect our state's unique needs and priorities." "My entire family is grateful to every Alaskan who supported my campaign, from stories of my father campaigning in rural Alaska to a donation of a single dollar in Bristol Bay. Everyone who supported my campaign can proudly say we ran a campaign built and powered by Alaskans, not Outside interests. Over 10,000 Alaskans donated to and volunteered for this campaign because we charted a clear course and positive vision for Alaska instead of following a partisan script crafted by Outside power brokers and billionaires who want to buy power in Washington," said Begich. Begich said, "Rural Alaska made its voice heard loud and clear in the election, and I am overwhelmed by the record levels of support I received from villages and hubs across the state. It has been an honor to travel Alaska to meet with Alaskans in their homes, tribal halls and businesses to hear their needs and concerns. Being born and raised in Anchorage, I'm also proud to have won ten of Anchorage's sixteen legislative districts, a testament to my past and present service to my community."
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