The Eye

No major challengers have indicated plans to challenge Young, who narrowly escaped defeat in the primary and general election last year.

Democrat Ethan Berkowitz, a former state legislator who held Young to a 5 percentage point margin in 2008, has indicated his sights are set on the governor's mansion in 2010.

Democrats note that it is still early in the recruitment phase in Alaska, which will hold its primary in late August 2010. Democratic candidate Mark Begich, who successfully ousted Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens last fall, didn't officially enter the race until April of last year.

On the Republican side, Young indicated he has spoken to Andrew Halcro, a 2006 Independent candidate for governor, and State Rep. John Coghill about their possible GOP campaigns for Young's seat. Lieutenant Gov. Sean Parnell nearly ousted Young in the 2008 Republican primary, 45.2 to 45.5 percent.

Young, who has served in the House since winning a special election in 1973, filed for re-election Monday with Alaska's State Division of Elections. The lawmaker filed paperwork for the 2010 cycle with the Federal Election Commission back in mid-November.