Top 15 House and Senate Races to Watch

Republican: Ted Stevens (Incumbent)

Democrat: Mark Begich (Mayor of Anchorage)

Veteran Senator Ted Stevens, who once chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee, would normally be a safe incumbent in this solidly Republican state. However, with several scandals hounding the senator (including investigation and raids by the FBI and IRS on corruption charges that Stevens denies), Stevens's popularity has plummeted, and Democrats believe this is their best year to win the Alaska senator's seat. His opponent, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, is one of the most popular Democrats in Alaska, and Begich is counting on resentment towards not just Stevens, but the rest of the Alaskan congressional delegation, all of whom have been tainted in the same scandal. Stevens, on the other hand, will once again rely on his fundraising advantage, name recognition, and his years of bringing federal dollars to Alaska to pull through in what promises to be his toughest re-election race ever.

2004 Presidential Results: Bush 62%, Kerry 35%

- James Downie and Marti Covington/Washington