Check 1992, Young only got 46.8% against John Devens (who similarly held him to a 52-48% win in 1990). Since 2014, he has underperformed as an incumbent, getting from only 50.3% in 2016 to a high of 54.4% in 2020. All should’ve been warning signs to retire and pass it off to a younger Republican and preferably Conservative successor.
Fieldmarshaldj is correct. I checked his electoral history and Don Young won with 46% of the vote in 1992, and only 50% in 2008, 2014, and 2016. Claiming he was Mr. Popularity in Alaska was simply not true. He lucked into getting elected for decades, mainly due to having “R” next to his name in a heavily GOP state.
My main concern is the Alaska GOP will pull what they do for the Dingell family in Michigan, and try to anoint a family member to that seat so they can continue the “tradition” of having a “Congressman Young” for eternity.