A few attendees at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference have been glum-looking Democrat legislators, some of whom have fought Gov. Mike Dunleavy since he was elected in 2018.
The contrast between vision and obstruction couldn’t be more apparent. The air was electric with announcements that could position Alaska at the forefront of America’s energy future, from Korean investment interest in our LNG to bold new surveys showing national support for resource development in the state.
While most of the 1,000 attendees are enthusiastic and hopeful, a few familiar Democrat Party faces in the crowd appeared unmoved. They’re the faces of long-serving Democrat legislators whose records read more like roadblocks than roadmaps. Add Bill Popp and the Anchorage Municipal leadership to that list of depressed Democrats — the positive energy is just killing them.
As business leaders, Trump Administration energy officials, and international investors have talked about infrastructure, permitting reform, and attracting capital, Democrats and their allies in the House and Senate seem detached from the urgency and opportunity of the moment. For years, these lawmakers have presented not a single comprehensive energy or investment agenda of their own. And still, the mainstream media gives them a free pass, never asks the question “Why have you presented no economic path forward?”
Let’s be honest: If these legislators have legislative initiatives that put Alaska on par with energy states like Texas or North Dakota, they’re keeping them very well hidden.
Collectively, the Democrat veterans in the Alaska Legislature has over 130 years of legislative experience. Yet over the past decade, what do they have to show for it? They presided over the depletion of Alaska’s savings, gutted the Permanent Fund dividend, and blocked pro-development policies that could have fueled job growth and diversified our economy.
Where is the landmark legislation that made Alaska more competitive? Where is the comprehensive tax or permitting reform package? Where is the legislative push to streamline natural resource development, open new markets, or support critical minerals? Where, frankly, is the leadership?
Instead, the legacy of this political class is defined by resistance. Not just resistance to federal overreach — resistance to anything that might bring jobs, energy security, or private investment. Their answer to every opportunity seems to be “no,” unless it involves more government spending or more federal dollars. It’s a defense posture, not a development one.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, by contrast, has been left to shoulder the heavy lifting, pursuing partnerships, promoting the state abroad, and trying to rebuild investor confidence. And while he faces consistent attacks from the Left, they have yet to offer serious alternatives or a coherent economic vision of their own.
If you’re a Democrat lawmaker in Alaska who believes you have moved the state forward, then name the bill. Show the initiative. Point to something beyond opposition, inertia, and appropriation.
The future is being written by those who are bold enough to act. Alaska has abundant resources, national attention, and geopolitical importance. But without the political will to harness it, we’ll fall further behind our peers. It’s time our Legislature matched the ambition of our people and the potential of our land.
If our long-tenured lawmakers can’t lead Alaska forward, maybe it’s time we found some who will.
Suzanne Downing is founder and editor of Must Read Alaska. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect the opinions of the new owners of Must Read Alaska, Alaska Gold Communications Inc.
