Opinion: Rep. Nick Begich is hitting it out of the ballpark
Published 10:30 pm Wednesday, July 23, 2025
Since winning Alaska’s lone U. S. House seat on Nov. 5, 2024, Rep. Nick Begich has astonished even his most ardent fans. With barely 200 days in office, to use a baseball metaphor, Nick is swinging for the fences. He already has an enviable list of feats for someone in a starting position in Congress.
During his campaign, Nick worked to convince voters that he could fill the shoes of the late Rep. Don Young, Alaska’s longest-serving U. S. House Representative.
Despite being outspent 4-1, Nick shut out the incumbent Democrat and picked off three other Republicans on the ballot for the win.
After being sworn into office on Jan. 3, he introduced three bills to strengthen the general welfare of Alaska Native communities. Two of those bills, House Resolution 42: Alaska Native Settlement Trust Eligibility Act, and HR 43: Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2025 were signed into law last month, a remarkable double-play for a rookie Congressman in his first season.
Straightaway, House leadership recognized Begich as a key utility player, and within days drafted him to serve on three prominent committees and eight subcommittees, a work rotation not normally assigned to newcomers. His committee assignments were Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Space, Science, and Technology.
In his second week, Nick was tagged as vice chair of the House Subcommittee for Energy and Mineral Resources, focusing on issues critical to Alaska and the nation. In February, he was tagged once more as vice chair of Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials. These roles in the Congressional lineup are rarely assigned to freshman legislators.
It’s hard to overstate the importance of having a true expert when it comes to game-changing technologies that can benefit future generations. In March, Nick’s wide-ranging experience in technology was highlighted when he sponsored HR 2032, the BITCOIN Act of 2025, aimed at creating a regulatory framework for digital assets.
In separate but related legislation, Nick advocated for House passage of the Senate-passed GENIUS Act — short for Generating Essential National Infrastructure for Universal Stability. The legislation creates the first ever federal regulatory framework for so-called stablecoins, a form of cryptocurrency that is pegged to the U.S. dollar or other traditional assets to minimize volatility. He also co-sponsored the CLARITY Act which established a regulatory framework for “digital commodities,” which includes most cryptocurrencies that rely on a blockchain for their value, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Begich is emerging as one of Congress’s influential voices on cryptocurrency. His knowledge and advocacy in this area led to several national news media interviews and garnering an invitation as a featured speaker at Alaska’s first ever Bitcoin Alaska Conference in Juneau in July. The conference aimed to promote Bitcoin education, economic empowerment, and bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized digital assets in Alaska. With over 120 attendees, approximately 85% were non-local, coming from other Alaska cities and outside the state.
In what may eventually be regarded one of his most significant clutch plays, Rep. Begich, as a member of the Natural Resources Committee, sponsored a budget proposal to increase Alaska’s share of federal leasing revenues from 50% to 90% starting in 2035 (subsequently renegotiated to 70% beginning in 2034). This provision was included in the final budget bill signed by President Trump last week.
While this long-sought-after change in federal leasing revenues will eventually generate billions of additional dollars for the state, other budget provisions championed by Begich will also benefit Alaskans for generations to come. These include reinstated lease sales canceled by the Biden Administration, regulatory reform, streamlined permitting, legal protection for projects from court challenges, timber harvest increases, and funding for water-related projects, among others.
Rumors of a rematch between Begich and Democrat Mary Peltola in the 2026 election persist, especially from partisans who wish it true. Nick’s ability to deliver results during such a short period certainly argues against it.
We’re only in the first few innings but just look at the scoreboard. Only beginning to establish his mark in the sport of politics, Rep. Begich’s playing stats are extraordinary.
He is a natural talent who will only improve in the seasons to come.
• After retiring as the senior vice president in charge of business banking for KeyBank in Alaska, Win Gruening became a regular Opinion Page columnist for the Juneau Empire. He was born and raised in Juneau and graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1970. He is involved in various local and statewide organizations. Columns, My Turns and Letters to the Editor represent the view of the author, not the view of the Juneau Empire. Have something to say? Here’s how to submit a My Turn or letter.
