As soon as the Legislature adjourned on Tuesday, Rep. Louise Stutes, a registered Republican who has caucused with the Democrats for all of her career, quietly filed to run for Senate.
The seat she would serve in is now occupied by Senate President Gary Stevens, who has been rumored to be retiring.
Sen. Stevens, also a Republican, represents Senate District C, which includes Kodiak, Homer, Seward, and Cordova. He is 83 and has served in the Alaska Legislature since 2001, first in the House and then in the Senate beginning in 2003. Whether he would want to run again in 2026 is unlikely, as it would set him up to serve into his late 80s.
Stevens has held the position of Senate President multiple times, most recently during the current session, which will reconvene in January after gaveling out on Tuesday.
Rep. Stutes has represented Kodiak in the Alaska House of Representatives since 2015 and served as House Speaker from 2021 to 2023. Throughout her tenure, she has been primarily associated with Democrat policies and political alliances and is the remaining member of what was dubbed the “Muskox Caucus” of left-leaning Republicans that broke away from the Republican majority in 2016.
The Republican Party needs to pull all support from everyone one of these members and ban them from party. They are just using the party name to get elected but are RINOS that are driving Republican support for the party away. I have resigned from the GOP party after over 50 years of support. I tired of electing a GOP majority only to have them support the Democrats. Get rid of them and Murkowski also.
Yep. James Kaufman and Will Stapp need to GO! Cowards voting against our Governor’s veto and for gutting our PFDs!
The local Republican District Committee in Kodiak supported Gary Stevens, just like they have & will support Louise Stutes & Lisa Murkowski. Even if those candidates were censured they would continue to support them on the QT. For some reason the electorate in Kodiak goes with that. As far as the party goes new, more conservative people, would need to start serving on the District Committee there to help support conservative Republican candidates & issues. Maybe everybody there likes it just the way it is? I don’t know.
It’s a completely different story on the Homer side of the inlet where Sarah Vance is the Rep & the Republican District Committee is extremely conservative, well organized & has a very active membership. These committees are part of the state GOP but are entirely locally influenced. So while the state GOP plays a huge role it’s not the whole deal. The local political environment at the district level is also very important. It is extremely frustrating to watch but it is what it is.
Really revved up comment that is detached from reality.
There are undoubtedly abundant reasons why the constituents in these districts like and continue to re-elect individuals like Stevens and Stutes.
Stop whining about Stutes and Stevens or for that matter someone in the Republican Party who somehow doesn’t measure up to you ideological expectations.
Move to Kodiak if you think your orientation is what the electorate want and see how your message resonates next election cycle.
In the meantime, stop whining.
“…….There are undoubtedly abundant reasons why the constituents in these districts like and continue to re-elect individuals like Stevens and Stutes……..”
Great. Then let Stevens and Stutes run under more appropriate party designations if they can’t behave under Republican Party platforms or sling with fellow Republicans. Cut them off from party funds and support. Let them run as Democrats or independents.
Reg: Got an explanation why the are not actually Republicans?
It’s a political party, not a club where someone gets to toss out someone they disagree with.
Find Stutes offensive?
Move to Kodiak and run against her. Else, quit whining.
Joe, what an arrogant and ignorant jerk you come across as here (and often elsewhere, too).
So traitorous Republicans-In-Name-Only, who do NOT uphold their own putative party’s platform, but actively caucus with those in political opposition to them, can never be held to account? Why? Who are YOU to be telling US what is acceptable and not acceptable from elected politicians?
Is there a single lawyer in Alaska who is not a disingenuous and arrogant liar? Clearly, if there is, it is not you.
Ah Jeff. Still hiding behind yer not-so-cute anonymous pseudo name. Really courageous of you to try to call me out on this topic.
BTW, what is your point?
Mine was that the two politicians at issue in this article are accountable to the constituents who selected them repeatedly.
Your point is not very obvious. Is it that the Republican Party is some sort of club that guys like you want to control and bounce individuals who don’t align with your views?
What are your views on democracy anyway?
You can whine all you want about politicians and politics.
It’s not like you appear to actually be engaged in getting anything accomplished in the political realm anyway. Jeffy – face it, you’re just another crank with outsized opinions regarding politics but seemingly no concept on how to be effective in making Alaska a place that emphasizes personal freedom and a place where opportunity abounds.
Get a job or find a hobby that’s fun. Your comments and opinions are like a bad re-run.
The GOP in Alaska needs to encourage and recruit “new blood”. So far, both parties prop up the same old names.
Oh great! Another RINO herding over to the Senate. She has powerful name recognition while doing virtually nothing for the conservative cause. She’s a shoe-in and unlikely to be primaried. Though if sacrificing a couple live chickens to Jobu could make that happen, I’d be willing.
Rollo–Alaska no longer has party primaries. Our primary system is open, and party elites no longer have total control over who gets to run.
Good time to get rid of both of them!
Traitors all. Dishonest all. No integrity for the GOP. Damn the caucus.
We the people have to get up , rise up, and take our seats in the house, senate back from these career controllers. Shame on them. Power has corrupted each one. They have forgotten who they represent. Shame on them.
Actually, both of these politicians seem to enjoy considerable support among the electorate they represent.
Why this is bothersome to you and guys like Little Jeffy isn’t obvious but hey, it’s a free country (sort of), so whine on to your hearts content.
Glad the kodiak guy leaving. He always votes with the democrats. Worthless. And the lady not sure about her but think she votes with the democrats too
Kodiakers please organize now to defeat her. She not well liked on the island outside of those who benefit from her corruption. And what corruption it is. Her house by the ocean is huge.
One RINO after another Alaska is doomed unless they move the Capitol to the road system
Sure, have the Legislature convene in Tok or maybe Anchorage. That would fix all of our problems.
Genius idea.
I’m just jealous I didn’t see this solution sooner.
Is she a Graduate of the Gabriel LeDoux —-Kodiak Political School. Majoring in Two Faced Politics
This woman looks one hair dye color away from being an E Jean Carrol.
Just sayin’.
Just sayin’ you failed to get at whatever you were trying to communicate.
What was your point, anyway?
All the so called conservative republicans that voted for HB57 sound be fired.
Kodiak, Homer, Cordova (No Road) and Seward are majority Democrat as far as I can tell.
Why do these 2 need an ‘R’ after their name?
I don’t get it.
Maybe the conceive of themselves a Republicans, just like Clem Tillion, Jay Hammond, Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln and others did?
Get it?
Think of this as an opportunity to flip two RINO seats. If Stevens retires, that is an open seat. If Stutes runs to replace him, her seat is open also. Lot easier to win an open seat than unseat a long-time legislator. Your problem in the two districts is that Stutes and Stevens have spend decades sucking up to commfish in Homer and Kodiak, yeah, the same commfish that is busily destroying every single salmon run in Cook Inlet and PWS other than hatchery pinks. Want to flip the clown show in Juneau? This is as good a place to start as any. Cheers –
Keep flopping Agi. You sound like a fish out of water with this comment.
Stutes is a Gary Stevens clone. Nothing will change by putting her in the Senate!
Not necessarily. It will open up her seat for a challenge. Cheers –
Should be entertaining to watch two alpha females, The Stutes and The Giessel fight over who gets to lead the pack, who gets to be co-governor of Alaska.
.