Alaska Rep. Don Young, longest-serving congress member, dies at 88. Young, who was first elected to the U.S. House in 1973, was known for his brusque style. In his later years in office, his off-color comments and gaffes sometimes overshadowed his work. During his 2014 reelection bid, the Republican described himself as intense and less-than-perfect but said he wouldn’t stop fighting for Alaska. Source 7x.