In the quarterly meeting of the State Central Committee in the Mat-Su Valley, Alaska Republican officers upheld the censure of Sen. Jesse Bjorkman of Kenai/Nikiski.
Bjorkman attended, not only defending his alliances with Democrats, but doubled down, saying he had done so for committee assignments. He is part of the Republican Overriders Caucus — those Republicans who turned their backs on Gov. Mike Dunleavy and overrode his partial veto of an increase to the budget.
Earlier this summer, both District 7 and District 8 Republicans voted to censure Bjorkman, and took their cause to the State Central Committee for the full vote of the Republican officers of the state.
Bjorkman appealed to the State Central Committee. Discussion was held in executive session, and the two-thirds vote needed to overrule the district censure was not reached during the open session vote.
Under party rules, censures can be initiated by district committees when an elected Republican official is alleged to have violated principles or operational guidelines laid out in the party’s bylaws. While a censure carries no legal penalty, it can be a significant political rebuke and may affect future support from the party organization. But Bjorkman was reelected in 2024. His term ends Jan. 16, 2029.