Stevens Wins Alaska GOP Primary; Don Young Trails In Close Race

(AHN) - Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) handily won the Republican primary Tuesday night against six contenders despite the seven-count indictment against him for accepting gifts from one of the largest oil services companies in his state.

With 70 percent of precincts reporting, Stevens received 63 percent. Former state legislator David Cuddy was his closest rival, with 28 percent, followed by banker Vicki Vickers who only got 6 percent.

Stevens, on a bid for a seventh term, will have a general election match-up against Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, who won a landslide in the Democratic primary.

The 84-year old lawmaker pleaded not guilty in July to failing to report $250,000 worth of gifts and home renovations from VECO Corp. in his 1999-2006 financial disclosure forms. Stevens allegedly accepted the gifts in return for help in obtaining contracts and the construction of a natural gas pipeline. His trial is set for Sept. 22.

Tuesday's GOP primary also had Rep. Don Young (R-AK), the only Alaskan congressman in the U.S. House for more than three decades, battling Alaska Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell. The contest was still too close too call at 45.3 percent to 45.6 percent, respectively, as of Wednesday morning.

Young has also been tied to the VECO controversy; the oil services company has allegedly held a fundraiser called "the Pig Roast" for the 75-year-old lawmaker in the last 10 years. Young has also been linked to the Jack Abramoff corruption scandal, and is accused of being responsible for the $10 million earmark for Florida's Coconut Road, an earmark he reportedly added while chairing the House Transportation Committee and in exchange for a $41,000 contribution from a Florida real estate developer.