Stevens files for re-election amid probe

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, reportedly filed for re-election Thursday, despite a federal corruption probe hanging over his political future.

Stevens, 84, who is the longest serving Republican senator in U.S history, filed his re-election paperwork in Anchorage, The Hill Reported.

Stevens was appointed to the Senate in 1968, won a special election to the seat two years later, and has been re-elected ever since.

He could be in for a tough campaign, given that he is under investigation in connection with his dealings with a convicted oil services contractor, VECO Corp. executive Bill Allen, who allegedly had parts of the senator's home remodeled.

The Hill reported that Democratic leaders in Alaska are trying to get Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich to run against Stevens.