Two-party coalitions claim control of both Alaska House and Senate

After the election, a two-party majority will control both the Alaska House and the Senate, lawmakers said Wednesday evening.

That means the State House will give up majority control under Republican leadership and have a new speaker, according to a news release. Independent Rep. Bryce Edgmon of Dillingham will take the gavel.

The other two senior leadership positions will be given to moderate Republicans, according to the statement. Chuck Kopp, a moderate Anchorage Republican with a large lead over incumbent Republican Craig Johnson, will become the House majority leader, and Republican Louise Stutes of Kodiak will chair the powerful Rules Committee.

Stutes was the only Republican in the Democrat-dominated and minority independent coalition for the past two years. Kopp was a member of a multiparty caucus during his previous tenure in the Legislative Assembly.

The House coalition said it would prioritize stable education funding, budgets that do not exceed the Permanent Fund, pension reform and energy development.

“Alaskans have spoken out and we will work together, representing residents of all counties,” Edgmon said in the news release.

It’s unclear how many members the House majority will have, but the announcement invited “additional legislators who support these principles” to join.

As of Wednesday evening, some House races remained unresolved, leaving thousands of ballots left to be counted in the state. The current speaker of the House, Wasilla Republican Cathy Tilton, said that means it’s too early to form a majority.

“I just think it might be a little early,” he said by phone. “There are still a lot of votes out there.”

Members of both the House and Senate coalitions have frequently been at odds with Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

The current leadership of the bipartisan Senate majority will remain in place, according to a press release from Senate leaders.

Kodiak Republican Gary Stevens will continue as Senate president. Anchorage Republican Cathy Giessel will be majority leader. Anchorage Democrat Bill Wielechowski will remain chairman of the powerful Rules Committee.

“Alaskans can look forward to a productive Senate majority that will get important things done. “We are focused on doing the best we can for families, businesses and communities in Alaska,” Giessel said in a prepared statement.

While the current three co-chairs of the Senate Finance Committee will remain in office, there is one notable change. The committee discussing the county’s operating budget will be chaired by Bethel Democrat Lyman Hoffman, and Sitka Republican Bert Stedman will lead the committee’s approach to the capital budget. Hoffman is currently co-chair of the capital budget and Stedman is co-chair of the operating budget.

Donny Olson, a Golovin Democrat, will remain as Finance Committee co-chairman, overseeing other bills coming before the committee.

Eagle River Republican Kelly Merrick will be the Senate’s majority whip, and Anchorage Democrat Elvi Gray-Jackson will chair the Legislative Budget and Oversight Committee.

Wielechowski said in a prepared statement that the bipartisan group will work to strengthen the state’s workforce, improve public schools and invest in infrastructure.

“By eliminating partisan differences, we are focusing on what really matters to Alaskans with solutions that support strong communities and lasting economic growth,” he said. “This is about making tangible improvements that will benefit every corner of our state, urban and rural.”

The current Senate majority includes 17 of the body’s 20 members, but at least two will not return to the Legislature. Republican Click Bishop of Fairbanks did not seek re-election, and Wasilla Republican David Wilson is on track to lose his bid for another term.

His likely replacements are Republican Mike Cronk, who is leading the race to replace Bishop, and Robert Yundt, who is leading Wilson. They did not immediately respond to messages. Yundt has criticized the current majority on social media in recent days, citing the caucus’ failure to pass legislation banning transgender girls from school sports.

Fairbanks Democratic Sen. Scott Kawasaki, another majority member of the caucus, is in a tight race with Republican challenger Leslie Hajdukovich, with many ballots remaining to be counted.

Unofficial final election results, including ranked choice tables, are expected to be announced on November 20. State election officials plan to certify the election on Nov. 30.

You can find more election news at: ktoo.org/elections.