In his confirmation hearing on Thursday, April 30, Attorney General Stephen Cox thanked the Senate State Affairs Committee for the opportunity to introduce himself more fully to Alaskans.
Stephen Cox was appointed by Governor Dunleavy to fill the vacancy left by Candidate for Governor Treg Taylor. The Legislature is scheduled to vote on Cox’s confirmation this Thursday, May 7, 2026.
Cox began the hearing by introducing his family who were in attendance: his wife of twenty-three years and their three kids. Then, he gave a brief summary of his professional career and how he and his family ended up in Alaska.
“I worked on Alaska energy projects early on in my career, starting in 2011, working on Cook Inlet exploration projects with Apache Corporation,” stated Cox. “My role was helping to navigate the legal and regulatory challenges of operating here. Later, at the Department of Justice from early 2017 through mid 2020, I worked in the Associate Attorney General’s office helping oversee the department’s civil litigating components and grant-making components.”
Cox said serving “as general counsel for an investment platform of Bristol Bay Native Corporation… gave me a different perspective. I spent time in the region. I saw the fishing traditions. I came to understand both the opportunities and the challenges, especially in Western Alaska. where the cost of fuel, logistics, and remoteness shape everyday life.”
Speaking on his current position as Attorney General, Cox emphasized his prioritization of cracking down on domestic violence and sexual assault. “I want to be clear about the department’s topmost priority: domestic violence and sexual assault, especially in rural Alaska, and that remains at the center of our public safety mission. Those are our hardest cases. It requires partnerships and coordination, breaking down silos across agencies and jurisdictions. And we cannot afford to tackle those problems in isolation. We have to bring people together, use the tools we already have more effectively, and partner with other agencies to build a more coordinated response.”
Cox identified two other key priorities: consumer protection and unlocking Alaska’s potential. “Alaska has some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country, and I think we can be enforcing them more aggressively.” He highlighted how he has worked to protect Alaskan consumers from illegal donation soliciting practices, grocery pricing practices charging customers more than shelf price, and utility companies rounding up bills without clear consent from consumers.
To unlock Alaska’s potential, Cox talked about working with the federal government to help “position Alaska to move projects forward under existing law.”
Cox closed his introduction, saying his role as Attorney General is “without question, the best job I’ve ever had. I get to work on matters that are central to this state. And there is nothing quite like it, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to do this. It is a rare opportunity to serve Alaskans. I consider it a privilege. I’ll just close with this: my family chose this state. We love it here. I am committed to serving it well. If confirmed, you will get my best judgment. You’ll get someone who understands that this office belongs to the people of Alaska. Thank you. I’d be happy to take any questions.”
Listen to Cox’s full introduction and hearing here:
The Senators questioned Cox at length, spending a bulk of the time on a controversy related to the disclosure of confidential voter information to the U.S. Department of Justice. During the discussion, Senators Bill Wielechowski and Scott Kawasaki made up some facts. Read all about it here:
