Stevens apparently will return to Senate

JUNEAU, Alaska, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, convicted of failing to report cash and gifts on his Senate disclosure forms, held a slim lead in his bid to be re-elected.

With 435 of 438 precincts reporting, Stevens held a 48 percent-to-46 percent edge over Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, the state's unofficial results indicated Wednesday.

Because the gap between Stevens and Begich is so small -- slightly more than 3,000 votes -- the race may not be determined until the state certifies the final tallies of absentee voters, The Hill reported.

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, the state's lone House member in Washington, held a comfortable lead over Democratic challenger Ethan Berkowitz, taking 51 percent of the vote to Berkowitz's 43 percent.

Stevens, 84, was convicted on seven felony counts of failing to report more than $250,000 in gifts and home renovations on his Senate financial disclosure statements, while Young faced several ethics challenges during his last congressional term, the Washington political publication said.