Alaska Republican Sen. Stevens concedes defeat
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, convicted last month of corruption charges, conceded defeat on Wednesday in his bid for an eighth term, a day after his Democratic opponent claimed victory.
Mark Begich, the mayor of Anchorage, is the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Congress by Alaska in more than a quarter of a century -- and an important gain for Democrats in their bid for a 60-member majority in the Senate.
"Given the number of ballots that remain to be counted, it is apparent the election has been decided and Mayor Begich has been elected," Stevens said in a statement.
"My family and I wish to thank the thousands of Alaskans who stood by us and who supported my reelection," added Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate with 40 years in office.
Stevens, 85, once held extraordinary influence as the veteran chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee before the Republicans lost their majority in the chamber two years ago.
He was convicted in October of seven counts of lying on Senate disclosure forms for failing to report more than $250,000 in home improvements and other gifts from an oil industry executive. Stevens could face up to a 35-year prison term.
At a news conference in Anchorage, Begich acknowledged it was difficult for many Alaskans to vote against Stevens, an icon nicknamed "Uncle Ted" for the billions of dollars in federal funds he secured for the state.
"Ted Stevens had 40 years of service to this state. There was a lot of history that people had and a lot of memories of what he has done," Begich said.
Begich said he would not necessarily agree with other Democrats in the Senate, noting he hoped to encourage oil development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a popular idea in Alaska opposed by most Democrats. But Begich said development should be part of a broader energy strategy with appeal to environmentalists.
If Begich's victory is certified, Democrats will have gained seven seats in the Senate to increase their majority in the 100-member chamber to 58 after the November 4 election. If Democrats win Senate races in Minnesota and Georgia, they will have a majority of 60 for the first time in 30 years and big enough to pass bills over Republican procedural hurdles.
In Minnesota, Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken are locked in a recount. In Georgia, Republican incumbent Saxby Chambliss and Democrat Jim Martin are contesting a runoff.
(Additional reporting by Tom Ferraro in Washington; Writing by Jim Christie in San Francisco)
