ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alaska Republican Party on Thursday called on Democratic Sen. Mark Begich to resign in light of the now-abandoned federal convictions that had crippled his GOP opponent, Ted Stevens, in last year’s election.
State Republican Party chairman Randy Ruedrich said Begich should step down to allow for a special election. Republican Gov. Sarah Palin immediately endorsed the idea. “I absolutely agree,” she said in a statement.
Stevens, 85, was convicted of seven felony counts a week before the November election. On Wednesday the Department of Justice announced it would dismiss the indictment against Stevens because prosecutors mishandled the case.
Begich, the former mayor of Anchorage, said he intends to serve his six-year term.
“I got into the Senate race long before Sen. Stevens’ legal troubles began because Alaskans were looking for a change and a senator as independent as Alaska,” Begich said in a statement.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, did not call on Begich to resign, saying it was not possible to turn back the clock.
Attempts to reach Stevens on Thursday were not immediately successful.
