Another Democrat is running for the nomination to face scandal-plagued Congressman Don Young (R-AK). Ethan Berkowitz, a former minority leader of the Alaska House, has announced that he will run for the seat.

Berkowitz, who ran for Lt. Governor last year on the ticket with former Governor Tony Knowles, served five terms in the Alaska House and is considered to be one of the state party's big names. Over this past Summer, he had also been rumored as a potential opponent for GOP Sen. Ted Stevens.

Berkowitz joins former Alaska Democratic Party Chairman Jake Metcalfe and 2006 Young opponent Diane Benson in the Democratic Primary.

On the GOP side, it looks as if Young won't have a free ride to the party's nomination, either. State Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux, a former Democrat, said yesterday that she will mount a primary challenge against the 18-term incumbent.