Elections have consequences and although Alaskans favored President Donald Trump in the November general elections, the Democrats flipped three seats in the Alaska House from red to blue, enough for them to assert that they have control, with the help of two breakaway Republicans.
Alaskans can expect a lot of radical legislation to be passed by the House in 2025, and at least some of it will get through the Democrat-controlled Senate and make it to the governor’s desk. They may also see spending so high that it erodes their Alaska Permanent Fund dividend even further, as one of the big initiatives of the group is to bring back defined benefits for public employees.
According to the Democrat caucus that has the turncoat Republicans, it’s a done deal. The group released the names of committee chairs for the coming two-year legislative session.
Here are the members who will be in charge of the House when Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom gavels it in on Jan. 17, 2025:
Speaker Bryce Edgmon
Majority Leader Chuck Kopp
Rules Committee Chair Louise Stutes
Majority Whip Zack Fields
House Finance Committee Co-chairs Neal Foster, Andy Josephson, and Calvin Schrage, with Sara Hannan, Alyse Galvin, and Nellie Jimmie as members from the Democrat caucus.
Natural Resource Committee Co-chairs Maxine Dibert and Robyn Burke.
Education Committee Co-chairs Andi Story and Rebecca Himshoot.
Energy Committee Co-chairs Donna Mears and Ky Holland.
State Affairs Committee Chair Ashley Carrick.
Health and Social Services Committee Chair Genevieve Mina.
Labor and Commerce Committee Chairs Zack Fields and Carolyn Hall.
Community and Regional Affairs Committee Co-Chairs Donna Mears and Rebecca Himshoot.
Judiciary Committee Chair Andrew Gray.
Transportation Committee Co-chairs Ted Eischeid and Ashley Carrick.
Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Ted Eischeid.
Joint Armed Services Committee Chair Andrew Gray.
Fisheries Committee Chair Louise Stutes.
Tribal Affairs Committee Co-chairs Bryce Edgmon and Maxine Dibert.
All our gov needs is 14 in the House or 7 in the Senate. Who will be the stalwarts of the 34th legislature?
“……….with the help of two breakaway Republicans……..”
The story of Alaska for the past half century. If the Republican Party can’t reform this practice they deserve what they’ve been getting.
With very few exceptions, what’s the difference between the two anymore?
The Democrats want to bankrupt Alaska in one massive go.
The Republicans want to stretch it out over the course of a couple years.
Either way, the same result.
We are so screwed. And we did it to ourselves.