Dec. 14, 2010 -- Roll Call's Emily Pierce writes, first-term Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) will become the 5th highest ranking member of the Democratic Caucus when he takes the gavel as the chair of the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee. The Steering Committee helps to set the Senate Democrats's agenda by serving as a liaison between stakeholders, advocates, and lawmakers.
According to the article, "Begich said he would continue to defy leadership when necessary, noting he has bucked the party on oil and gas issues, gun rights and fiscal concerns."
According to the Senator's website, Begich is a former mayor of Anchorage and became a member of Alaska's State Legislature at age 26.
Begich currently serves on the Science, Commerce and Transportation, the Armed Services, and the Veterans Affairs Committees.
The following are Sen. Begich's top campaign contributors by interest group:
| Interest | Contributions |
|---|---|
| Lawyers/Law Firms | $535,220 |
| Securities & Investment | $178,862 |
| Oil & Gas | $133,655 |
| Real Estate | $125,600 |
| TV/Movies/Music | $117,156 |
| Misc Business | $96,999 |
| Environment | $90,174 |
| Health Professionals | $88,583 |
| Business Services | $88,186 |
| Lobbyists | $73,950 |
Contributions above are for the last six years of available data, Oct 14, 2004 - Oct 13, 2010. Contributions from political parties and from other candidates are not included in the "Top 10" lists. Contributions data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics (OpenSecrets.org).
