Mark Begich is an American politician who served as the U.S. Senator from Alaska from 2009 to 2014. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the first Democrat to hold the Senate seat since 1970. Before his Senate tenure, Begich was the mayor of Anchorage and worked in local government. Born on March 20, 1962, in Anchorage, Begich has a background in business and public service. He focused on issues such as economic development, healthcare, and veterans' affairs during his time in the Senate. After losing his re-election bid in 2014, he has remained active in various community and political initiatives.