Ralph Rivers
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Ralph Julian Rivers was an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served as the first United States Representative from Alaska, serving from statehood in 1959 to his resignation in 1966 following his defeat by Republican Howard Wallace Pollock. He previously served as the shadow U.S. Representative from Alaska Territory from 1956 to 1959.
Rivers, at bottom left, celebrating Alaska becoming a state on January 3, 1959. Behind Rivers is Bob Atwood. To his left are Fred Seaton, Ernest Gruening, Bob Bartlett, Mike Stepovich and Waino Hendrickson.
Since becoming a U.S. state in 1959, Alaska has been entitled to one member in the United States House of Representatives, elected in the state's sole, at-large congressional district. By area, Alaska's congressional district is the largest congressional district in the United States and the third-largest electoral district represented by a single member in the world, behind only Yakutsk district in Russia and Nunavut's sole electoral district in Canada.
Image: Don Young, official 115th Congress photo portrait
Image: Mary Peltola Congressional Member Portrait (2)