Washington, D.C. – Alaska friends and supporters of Congressman-elect Nick Begich III have gathered in the nation’s capital to witness the formal swearing in of Alaska’s 14th congressional representative since district and territorial days and only the sixth since statehood.
The official date of Jan. 3 at noon is set by the U.S. Constitution, which says Congress starts the new session at that time, but may also pass a law to start business on a different time or date.
After members are sworn in, the session begins the process of electing a House Speaker. Begich said today that he intends to support Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, who also has the support of President Donald Trump.
“Speaker Johnson and his leadership team worked tirelessly to deliver the Republican House Majority. President Trump has asked House Leadership to ensure Speaker Johnson continues in his leadership role. Unity in the Republican conference is necessary for delivering on the America First agenda. I will be supporting Mike Johnson for Speaker of the House,” Begich said.
The noon swearing in ceremony means that by the time most Alaskans are finishing their morning coffee at 8 a.m., Alaska will no longer be represented in Congress by Democrat Rep. Mary Peltola.
Alaskans have flown in for the ceremony, although even the ones in D.C. will be watching it from the screen in Begich’s office, in the Cannon Office Building.
Some Alaskans took a guided tour of the Capitol on Thursday. On Friday, Congressman Begich will be on hand to greet them after the noon swearing in; he is allowed only one person with him at the ceremony.
Must Read Alaska is on scene and will be reporting from the Cannon Office Building and the Capitol on Friday.
Friday, Jan. 3, is also the birthday of Alaska, as it is the day it became a state in 1959. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the official proclamation admitting it as the 49th state after a 13-year struggle to make the case that Alaska would not become dependent on the federal government.
Begich III, a Republican, will be sworn in 66 years after Statehood. For 49 years of Alaska’s history, Congressman Don Young represented the state, until his death in 2022 at the age of 88.
