Tom 's father was Nick Begich , an Alaska state senator from 1960 until 1970 , when he beat future U.S Senator and Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski for Alaska 's at-large congressional district . Nick disappeared as he was campaigning for re-election on October 17 , 1972 , while on a small plane flight in Alaska along with U.S. House Majority Leader Hale Boggs . He won his election over Republican Don Young , posthumously , then was declared dead on December 29 , 1972 . In 1984 and 1986 , Nick 's widow , Margaret " Pegge , " ran against Nick 's successor , Don Young , for the seat her husband had formerly held . Tom was a delegate to the 2004 Democratic National Convention . His brother , Mark Begich , served on the Anchorage Assembly from 1988 to 1998 and was the mayor of Anchorage from 2003 to 2009 . Mark won the 2008 U.S. Senate general election , defeating 40-year incumbent Republican Ted Stevens , but lost re-election in 2014 . Their brother , Nick Jr. , is an author . Tom 's uncle , Joseph Begich , served 18 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives
2004 Democratic National Convention
2004 Democratic National Convention
Tom Begich