ANCHORAGE (AP) — U.S. Rep. Don Young will remain as longest-serving Republican in the House.

Young defeated his upstart opponent, Forrest Dunbar, on Tuesday to win a 22nd term.

Young has rarely been challenged in races, but he didn’t make his cause any easier in the days leading up to this election.

The 81-year-old congressman ruffled feathers Oct. 21 when he told students at Wasilla High School, where a child recently committed suicide, that people kill themselves when there’s a lack of support from family and friends. Some students took offense, and Young sparred with a friend of the suicide victim.

Young’s office issued an apology, but he maintained that the student had disrespected him.