With the death of Rep. Don Young, Alaska’s lone Congressional seat is open. A gay Democrat wants it.

Christopher Constant, Rally in support of Ukraine in Anchorage
Photo: Photo used via Creative Commons license courtesy Paxson Woelber, The Alaska Landmine

Alaska politics can be pretty wild. (After all, the state gave us Sarah Palin.) But one thing was constant: Don Young. The Republican was elected to Congress in 1973 when Richard Nixon was president, and until his death, yesterday at the age of 88, stayed there, term after term. He was not only the oldest member of the House, but also the longest-serving Republican ever.

Young withstood multiple allegations of questionable behavior and porkbarrel spending, most notably a project that became known as the bridge to nowhere. That proposal, which Palin killed, would have spent more than $200 million of taxpayer money to build a bridge to an island that was home to 50 people, replacing a ferry that worked perfectly well.

Related: Ukraine to compete in Eurovision 2022 while contestants are serving in war against Russia

Young’s age made him a ripe target for a challenge, and one Democrat had already thrown his hat in the ring last month: Christopher Constant. Constant is a member of the Anchorage Assembly and the first out gay candidate to run for office statewide. 

Like many Alaskans, Constant is a…

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