EDGMON MAKING PLAY FOR SPEAKER’S GAVEL
Lifelong Democrat Rep. Bryce Edgmon of Dillingham quietly reregistered as an “undeclared” yesterday, Division of Elections records show.
It may be part of a plan Democrats and three Republicans are hatching to nominate him as Speaker of the House, allowing him to return for another two-year term.
Today, two Speaker nominees were turned down by House members. Republican Dave Talerico failed on a 20-20 vote, and then Republican-in-name-only Gary Knopp, who has flipped to work with the Democrats, also failed to get the votes.
With the Republican side in disarray today, Edgmon’s change of party status appears to be the next move to organizing the House.
Edgmon is said to have consulted with Democrats in his heavily partisan district, and won their nod of approval to change his party in order to build a bipartisan coalition.
His official page at the Alaska Legislature still lists him as a Democrat.
