Long-time Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young says he's running for reelection this year. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports Young spent the recent congressional recess holding fundraisers in Alaska, and he told the newspaper, "People know I'm back and they know that I'm running."

But if Young is to win an 18th full term in Congress, he will have to defeat challengers who are likely to make an issue of a wide-ranging federal investigation that includes the incumbent. State Representative Gabrielle LeDoux is challenging Young in the August 26 Republican primary. Democrats who have filed for the seat include Alaska House Minority Leader Ethan Berkowitz, former Alaska Democratic Party Chairman Jake Metcalfe, and Diane Benson, who lost to Young 57%-40% in 2006.

Though he will not release his 4th-quarter fundraising totals until the end of the month, Young retained about $1.5 million at the end of September, far more than Benson or Metcalfe, the only other two candidates who filed 3rd-quarter reports. The DCCC worked hard to recruit Berkowitz, the Democratic Lieutenant Governor nominee in 2006 who led Young by seven points in a December poll.

News of Young's re-election plans cannot be welcome for Alaska Republicans, many of whom have been stung by the investigation surrounding the VECO Corporation, an oil services company whose chief executive, Bill Allen, pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges. Also implicated was Senator Ted Stevens, whose home was raided by the FBI in late 2007, and several current and former state legislators.

Washington Republicans have seen good news lately, both in terms of strong recruitments and decisions by some ethically challenged members, including Arizona Republican Rick Renzi and California's John Doolittle, to step down. Young's decision to stay in can only cause heartburn for the NRCC.

-- Kyle Trygstad