Alaska senator: I don't even know if Palin is a resident

Democrat Mark Begich, whom Palin would challenge if she ran in 2014, said she has "lost touch" with the state

Published July 10, 2013 9:24PM (EDT)

Democratic Sen. Mark Begich dismissed Sarah Palin's talk of considering a run for Senate in Alaska in 2014, saying that he's not even sure if she still qualifies as a resident.

“I don’t know if she’s a resident. She’s been away from Alaska a lot and has probably lost touch with what’s going on. She should go to my webpage,” Begich told Politico. “Most Alaskans I see on a pretty regular basis, but I haven’t seen her for a long time.”

“I take every candidate seriously — that is, if she’s still a resident, but you know she quit on Alaska when she was governor,” Begich continued. “She’s been somewhat vacant from the state and quit on the state, so I wish her the best on her potential run.”

If Palin decided to run and managed to win the Republican primary, she would challenge Begich in the general election. “I’ve considered it because people have requested me considering it, but I’m still waiting to see what the lineup will be and hoping that … there will be some new blood, some new energy,” she told Sean Hannity on Tuesday.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

MORE FROM Jillian Rayfield


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2014 Elections Alaska Joe Miller Mark Begich Republicans Sarah Palin