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{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox person
'''Nick Begich III''' is an [[United States|American]] politician and entrepreneur from the state of [[Alaska]]. He was a candidate for the state’s lone seat in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] during the [[2022 United States elections|2022 U.S. general elections]]. He is the grandson of the Democrat [[Nick Begich Sr.]], who was elected to the House of Representatives in 1970 but disappeared in 1972.
| name = Nick Begich
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|10|21}}
| birth_place = Anchorage, Alaska
| nationality = American
| occupation = Business entrepreneur, investor
| known_for = Candidate for Alaska’s congressional seat (2022 and 2024)
| image = Nick Begich Offical Campaign Profle Photo (Cropped).jpg
}}


Nicholas J. Begich III (born on October 21, 1977, in Anchorage, Alaska) is the grandson of former U.S. Representative [[Nicholas Joseph Begich]]. Raised in Florida by his maternal grandparents, he returned to Alaska in 2004 with his wife, Dharna Begich. In 2024, he is a Republican [[2024 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska|candidate]] for Alaska's seat in the [[US House of Representatives]].
==Biography==
⚫
===Early life===
Begich was born in 1978 in Alaska to a prominent political family associated with the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]].<ref name=adn>OPINION: Why we’re supporting Nick Begich III for US House; Anchorage Daily News; [https://www.adn.com/opinions/2022/09/26/opinion-why-were-supporting-nick-begich-iii-for-us-house/]</ref> His father, [[Nick Begich Jr.]], was the eldest son of Nick Begich Sr. and his mother Pegge Begich was a political activist.<ref> Writer and activist gives science lecture; Frontiersman; [https://www.frontiersman.com/news/writer-and-activist-gives-science-lecture/article_e77362ed-040e-5fc8-a8cb-803da85106e3.html]</ref> [[Alaska's at-large congressional district|Alaska’s at-large congressional district]] was once held by his grandfather [[Nick Begich]] before his disappearance in 1972 on a flight from [[Anchorage, Alaska|Anchorage]] to [[Juneau, Alaska|Juneau]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2021 |first=James |last=Brooks |title=Nick Begich, Republican son of Alaska’s leading Democratic family, will run for U.S. House |url=https://www.adn.com/politics/2021/10/22/nick-begich-republican-son-of-alaskas-leading-democratic-family-will-run-for-us-house/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Anchorage Daily News |language=en}}</ref> His parents divorced when he was young and he was sent to live in [[Florida]] with his maternal grandparents. There, he has stated, he was raised with conservative values.<ref name=adn/>


== Professional career ==
Begich started to be involved with the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] when he was in high school, where he established a chapter of [[Young Republicans]]. He later obtained his bachelors in Business Administration from [[Baylor University]] and his M.A. from [[Indiana University]].<ref name=adn/> After college, Begich worked in the private sector. He was employed at [[Ford Motors]] before his family returned to Alaska in 2004. He then founded a [[software]] startup, which he ran for 15 years until he entered politics.<ref name=adn2> Mentored by Young, GOP U.S. House candidates navigate a race shaped by his death; Anchorage Daily News; [https://www.adn.com/politics/2022/04/27/mentored-by-young-gop-us-house-candidates-navigate-a-race-shaped-by-his-death/]</ref>
Begich founded FarShore Partners, a software development company, in 2006, and Dashfire<ref>{{cite web |title=Dashfire |url=https://www.dashfire.com/index/investing |website=dashfire.com |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref> (previously FarShore Ventures) in 2009. Dashfire has been involved in the creation, advising, and launching of over 50 technology-supported businesses across the United States, with investments in Raken, EverTrue, Artifact Uprising, PackBack, BloomBoard, Bucketfeet, and Factor 75. Dashfire's partnership with early development partners EverTrue and Bucketfeet have been studied in multiple business case studies<ref>{{cite web |title=Built for Global Competition from the Start |date=26 August 2013 |url=https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/built-for-global-competition-from-the-start |publisher=Harvard Business School |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref> and covered in the Wall Street Journal.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maltby |first1=Emily and Sarah E. Needleman|title=Dot-Com Bubble's Equity Swaps Are Back |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443589304577633552964792854 |access-date=11 January 2024 |work=Wall Street Journal |date=5 September 2012}}</ref>


He was elected as one of the five Board Directors for the [[Matanuska Telecom Association]] (MTA), a major telecommunications cooperative, in 2017, 2019, and 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Annual Report |url=https://www.mtasolutions.com/annual-report/ |website=mtasolutions.com |publisher=Matanuska Telecom Association |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref> In 2017, he also began serving as the President for the Matanuska Telephone Association Foundation.<ref>{{cite web |title=MTA Foundation Inc. |date=9 May 2013 |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/311742284/202012749349100421/full |publisher=ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref>
⚫
===Political Career===
In 2016, Begich ran for a seat on the [[Anchorage Assembly]] but lost to Amy Demboski.<ref name=adn3> Nick Begich, Republican son of Alaska’s leading Democratic family, will run for U.S. House; Anchorage Daily News; [https://www.adn.com/politics/2021/10/22/nick-begich-republican-son-of-alaskas-leading-democratic-family-will-run-for-us-house/]</ref> In 2022, Begich filed his candidacy for the special elections held to fill the late Representative [[Don Young]]’s term.<ref name=usatoday> Who is Nick Begich, one of the top three candidates running for Alaska's only House seat?; USA Today; [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/29/who-is-nick-begich-alaska-house-seat/10347524002/]</ref> Begich was the co-chair for the [[Alaska Republican Party]] Finance committee and U.S. Rep. Don Young’s re-election campaign in 2020. While Young has been described as Begich’s mentor, the 44 year-old Begich, expressed his intent to run against Young before his death.<ref name=adn2/>


== Political involvement ==
He emerged as one of the top candidates during the August 16, 2022 nonpartisan primary alongside the Democratic candidate [[Mary Peltola]] and former Republican governor [[Sarah Palin]]. He placed third during the special election, full-term primary, and the November 2022 general elections behind Peltola and Palin.<ref name=usatoday/> He was eliminated in the second round of voting during the general elections after securing a total of 64,392 votes, constituting 24.48% of the total votes cast.<ref> Downing: Why I’m voting for Nick III first; Must Read Alaska; [https://mustreadalaska.com/downing-why-im-voting-for-nick-iii-first]</ref><ref> Mary Peltola Wins Bid to Serve Full Term in the House for Alaska; New York Times; [https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/23/us/politics/mary-peltola-alaska-house-race.html]</ref>
Begich served as a Co-Chair for Congressman [[Don Young]]’s [[2020 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska|2020 campaign]], alongside former North Star Borough Mayor [[Rhonda Boyles]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Don Young names Rhonda Boyles, Nicholas Begich III to co-chair 2020 campaign |url=https://mustreadalaska.com/don-young-names-rhonda-boyles-nicholas-begich-iii-to-co-chair-2020-campaign/ |website=Must Read Alaska |date=4 May 2020 |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref> He has a familial connection to politics, as his grandfather, Representative [[Nicholas Joseph Begich]] served as Alaska's sole member of Congress from 1971 until he went missing on a flight in 1972 and was never found.


In 2020, Begich was a co-chair for the OneAlaska campaign, opposing an oil tax increase ballot initiative.<ref>{{cite web |title=OneAlaska Forms to Oppose Ballot Measure Aimed at Overhauling State's Oil Tax Structure |url=https://www.asrc.com/press/762/ |website=ASRC.com |publisher=Arctic Slope Regional Corporation |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref> He also joined The Club for Growth Foundation's Inaugural Fellows Program.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nicholas Begich III |url=https://clubforgrowthfoundation.org/fellow/nicholas-begich-iii/ |website=Club for Growth Foundation |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref> In 2018, he held the Republican National Committee (RNC) Alaska Party Chair Proxy Vote and served as president for the [[Alaska Policy Forum]] Board of Directors. He was also the Finance Committee co-chair for the [[Alaska Republican Party]] from 2016-2018.
⚫
===Political positions===
Begich agrees with the [[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization|Dobbs]] decision made by the [[Supreme Court of the United States]] which allowed abortion bans. Begich says that abortion is not a federal issue and that it should be regulated by the states.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=News |first=Anchorage Daily |title=Candidate Q&A: U.S. House — Nick Begich III |website=Alaska Public Media |url=https://alaskapublic.org/2022/08/10/candidate-qa-u-s-house-nick-begich-iii/ |access-date=2022-09-18 |language=en-US}}</ref>


In October of 2021, Begich filed<ref>{{cite news |title=Nick Begich running to unseat Don Young |url=https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2021/10/25/nick-begich-running-to-unseat-don-young-282384 |access-date=11 January 2024 |work=E & E News by Politico |publisher=Politico |date=25 October 2021}}</ref> to run for [[2022 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska|Alaska's congressional seat]], challenging incumbent Don Young. When Rep. Young died suddenly in March of 2022, a [[2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election|special election]] was called to elect a successor to complete the remainder of his term. Begich filed as a candidate for the special elections; he ultimately placed third behind Democrat Mary Peltola and fellow Republican Sarah Palin. In the [[2022 United States House of Representatives election in Alaska|regular election]] just over two months later in November of 2022, Begich again placed third behind Peltola and Palin.
Begich opposes [[gun control]] legislation. He states that he supports and will defend the [[Second Amendment to the United States Constitution|Second Amendment]].<ref name=":0" />


⚫
== Political positions ==
Begich claims that the government’s response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] was not always driven by the underlying science. He also opposes [[COVID-19 vaccination mandates in the United States|vaccine mandates]] and other similar government restrictions.<ref name=":0" />
Nick Begich is an advocate for the development of Alaska's energy resources, emphasizing sustainable fishing and revitalization of the timber industry. Begich supports the Second Amendment and constitutional originalism, and promotes educational reforms with a focus on local control and parental involvement. He seeks to reduce healthcare costs through increased competition and Medicaid reform, and highlighting Alaska's strategic role in national security.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet Nick |url=https://www.alaskansfornickbegich.com/solutions |website=Alaskans for Nick Begich.com |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref>


== Achievements ==
Begich does not believe that [[Transgender people in sports|transgender athletes]] should participate in sports that correspond with their [[gender identity]]. He thinks that transgender athletes should rather participate in sports that correspond with their [[biological sex]].<ref name=":0" />
In 2017, Begich was recognized in the National Federation of Croatian Americans “40 Under 40”.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nfcacf.org/40under40/nicholas-begich-iii/ |access-date=11 January 2024 |title = Nicholas Begich III - NFCACF|date=10 October 2021 }}</ref>


Begich was named Outstanding Student in Entrepreneurship at the [[Hankamer School of Business]] in 1999. Baylor University has consistently ranked among American top universities for entrepreneurship studies.
Begich has criticized United States immigration law stating that it takes years to immigrate legally and that it leaves out “valuable would-be citizens.” He also claimed that you could immigrate illegally and receive government handouts.<ref name=":0" />


Begich received an appointment to the [[United States Air Force Academy]] in 1995.<ref>{{cite news |title=SERVICE ACADEMIES APPOINT STUDENTS FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1995/07/09/service-academies-appoint-students-from-central-florida/ |access-date=11 January 2024 |publisher=Orlando Sentinel |date=9 June 1995}}</ref>
Begich says that Alaska is a model for clean air, clean water, and safe industry resource practices. He says that he thinks that it is paramount for the rest of the world to follow the United States’ lead. Begich has stated that the failure of the United States to ensure basic manufacturing restrictions around the world allows jobs to be easily shipped overseas and has done nothing to address pollution.<ref name=":0" />


== Education ==
Begich also stated that technology companies are in a position to control the flow of information to citizens. He says that the abuse of this power should be curbed.<ref name=":0" />
Nick Begich attended Master's Academy in Oviedo, Florida for high school, where he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for cross-country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nicholas Begich III (2011) - Hall of Fame - The Master's Academy |url=https://tmaathletics.com/honors/hall-of-fame/nicholas-begich-iii/8 |website=TMAAthletics.com |publisher=The Master's Academy |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref>


In 1999, he graduated from [[Baylor University]] with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (BBA), majoring in Entrepreneurship. Begich later graduated from [[Indiana University Bloomington]] in 2002, receiving a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a double-concentration in Information Technology and Decision Support Modeling.
⚫
==References==
{{reflist}}


⚫
== Personal life ==
⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Begich, Nick}}
Begich resides in Chugiak, Alaska with his wife, Dharna Vakharia Begich, and their son, Nicholas J. Begich IV.


Nick Begich is a nephew of former Senator [[Mark Begich]], Alaska State Senator [[Tom Begich]], and Colonel Elmo Baker.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elmo C. Baker Collection |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.74323/ |website=LOC.gov |publisher=US Library of Congress |access-date=11 January 2024}}</ref>
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[[Category:Alaska politicians]]

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== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Begich, Nicholas J. III}}
{{Draft categories|
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States House of Representatives elections]]
⚫
[[Category:21st-century American politicians]]
[[Category:People from Anchorage, Alaska]]
}}

{{Drafts moved from mainspace|date=January 2024}}

Latest revision as of 18:01, 11 January 2024

Nick Begich
Born (1977-10-21) October 21, 1977 (age 46)
Anchorage, Alaska
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Business entrepreneur, investor
Known forCandidate for Alaska’s congressional seat (2022 and 2024)

Nicholas J. Begich III (born on October 21, 1977, in Anchorage, Alaska) is the grandson of former U.S. Representative Nicholas Joseph Begich. Raised in Florida by his maternal grandparents, he returned to Alaska in 2004 with his wife, Dharna Begich. In 2024, he is a Republican candidate for Alaska's seat in the US House of Representatives.

Professional career[edit]

Begich founded FarShore Partners, a software development company, in 2006, and Dashfire[1] (previously FarShore Ventures) in 2009. Dashfire has been involved in the creation, advising, and launching of over 50 technology-supported businesses across the United States, with investments in Raken, EverTrue, Artifact Uprising, PackBack, BloomBoard, Bucketfeet, and Factor 75. Dashfire's partnership with early development partners EverTrue and Bucketfeet have been studied in multiple business case studies[2] and covered in the Wall Street Journal.[3]

He was elected as one of the five Board Directors for the Matanuska Telecom Association (MTA), a major telecommunications cooperative, in 2017, 2019, and 2021.[4] In 2017, he also began serving as the President for the Matanuska Telephone Association Foundation.[5]

Political involvement[edit]

Begich served as a Co-Chair for Congressman Don Young’s 2020 campaign, alongside former North Star Borough Mayor Rhonda Boyles.[6] He has a familial connection to politics, as his grandfather, Representative Nicholas Joseph Begich served as Alaska's sole member of Congress from 1971 until he went missing on a flight in 1972 and was never found.

In 2020, Begich was a co-chair for the OneAlaska campaign, opposing an oil tax increase ballot initiative.[7] He also joined The Club for Growth Foundation's Inaugural Fellows Program.[8] In 2018, he held the Republican National Committee (RNC) Alaska Party Chair Proxy Vote and served as president for the Alaska Policy Forum Board of Directors. He was also the Finance Committee co-chair for the Alaska Republican Party from 2016-2018.

In October of 2021, Begich filed[9] to run for Alaska's congressional seat, challenging incumbent Don Young. When Rep. Young died suddenly in March of 2022, a special election was called to elect a successor to complete the remainder of his term. Begich filed as a candidate for the special elections; he ultimately placed third behind Democrat Mary Peltola and fellow Republican Sarah Palin. In the regular election just over two months later in November of 2022, Begich again placed third behind Peltola and Palin.

Political positions[edit]

Nick Begich is an advocate for the development of Alaska's energy resources, emphasizing sustainable fishing and revitalization of the timber industry. Begich supports the Second Amendment and constitutional originalism, and promotes educational reforms with a focus on local control and parental involvement. He seeks to reduce healthcare costs through increased competition and Medicaid reform, and highlighting Alaska's strategic role in national security.[10]

Achievements[edit]

In 2017, Begich was recognized in the National Federation of Croatian Americans “40 Under 40”.[11]

Begich was named Outstanding Student in Entrepreneurship at the Hankamer School of Business in 1999. Baylor University has consistently ranked among American top universities for entrepreneurship studies.

Begich received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in 1995.[12]

Education[edit]

Nick Begich attended Master's Academy in Oviedo, Florida for high school, where he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame for cross-country.[13]

In 1999, he graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (BBA), majoring in Entrepreneurship. Begich later graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2002, receiving a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a double-concentration in Information Technology and Decision Support Modeling.

Personal life[edit]

Begich resides in Chugiak, Alaska with his wife, Dharna Vakharia Begich, and their son, Nicholas J. Begich IV.

Nick Begich is a nephew of former Senator Mark Begich, Alaska State Senator Tom Begich, and Colonel Elmo Baker.[14]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Dashfire". dashfire.com. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Built for Global Competition from the Start". Harvard Business School. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  3. ^ Maltby, Emily and Sarah E. Needleman (5 September 2012). "Dot-Com Bubble's Equity Swaps Are Back". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  4. ^ "2020 Annual Report". mtasolutions.com. Matanuska Telecom Association. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  5. ^ "MTA Foundation Inc". ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Don Young names Rhonda Boyles, Nicholas Begich III to co-chair 2020 campaign". Must Read Alaska. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  7. ^ "OneAlaska Forms to Oppose Ballot Measure Aimed at Overhauling State's Oil Tax Structure". ASRC.com. Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Nicholas Begich III". Club for Growth Foundation. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  9. ^ "Nick Begich running to unseat Don Young". E & E News by Politico. Politico. 25 October 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  10. ^ "Meet Nick". Alaskans for Nick Begich.com. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  11. ^ "Nicholas Begich III - NFCACF". 10 October 2021. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  12. ^ "SERVICE ACADEMIES APPOINT STUDENTS FROM CENTRAL FLORIDA". Orlando Sentinel. 9 June 1995. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Nicholas Begich III (2011) - Hall of Fame - The Master's Academy". TMAAthletics.com. The Master's Academy. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  14. ^ "Elmo C. Baker Collection". LOC.gov. US Library of Congress. Retrieved 11 January 2024.


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