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31st Alaska State Legislature

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31st Alaska State Legislature
←30th Alaska State Legislature 32nd Alaska State Legislature→
Overview
Legislative bodyAlaska Legislature
JurisdictionAlaska, United States
Meeting placeAlaska State Capitol
TermJanuary 15, 2019 – January 18, 2021
Alaska Senate
Members20 Senators
Senate PresidentCathy Giessel (R)
Majority LeaderPeter Micciche (R)
Minority LeaderTom Begich (D)
Party controlRepublican
Alaska House of Representatives
Members40 Representatives
Speaker of the HouseBryce Edgmon (I)
Majority LeaderSteve M. Thompson (R)
Minority LeaderLance Pruitt (R)
Party controlMultipartisan coalition

The 31st Alaska State Legislature represented the legislative branch of Alaska's state government from January 15, 2019, to January 18, 2021. Its initial 60-person membership was set by the 2018 Alaska elections, though two members subsequently died in office and two resigned their seats, requiring replacements appointed by Alaska governor Mike Dunleavy.

Members of the Legislature were deeply divided by budget issues and the future of the Alaska Permanent Fund. Members of the 31st Legislature continued taking substantive action after the 2020 Alaska elections, including the authorization of a lawsuit against Dunleavy.

The 31st Legislature held two regular sessions and two special sessions:

Session Start End
1st Regular January 15, 2019 May 15, 2019
1st Special May 16, 2019 June 13, 2019
2nd Special July 8, 2019 August 6, 2019
2nd Regular January 21, 2020 May 19, 2020

Organization

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Alaska House of Representatives

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In Alaska's 2018 general elections, Republican candidates won 23 seats in the Alaska House of Representatives. Democratic candidates won 16 seats, and an independent was elected to the district covering the Southeast Alaska town of Ketchikan.[1] Immediately after the election, 20 of the newly elected Republicans announced that with the support of a 21st Republican, Rep. David Eastman of Wasilla, they would have enough votes to form a majority caucus and take control of the House from a coalition that had been in charge during the prior Legislature.[2] This arrangement collapsed less than a month later, after Kenai Republican Rep. Gary Knopp withdrew his support, citing concerns about Eastman's reliability.[3]

With the House divided 20–20 between a Republican bloc and a coalition,[4] the House failed to choose a leader until mid-February. It remains the longest such leadership deadlock in state history and ended only when several Republicans crossed the aisle after Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon changed his political affiliation to "undeclared".[5][6] The result was a coalition that included 8 Republicans, 2 independents and 15 Democrats.[7] The remaining 15 Republicans were in the minority caucus.

Alaska Senate

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In the Alaska Senate, only 10 of 20 seats were part of the 2018 election. After the final results, the Senate held 13 Republicans and 7 Democrats. Because Senate President Pete Kelly lost his re-election campaign, the remaining Republicans picked Anchorage Sen. Cathy Giessel to lead the Senate.[9] After the Republicans selected Giessel, Democratic Sen. Lyman Hoffman of Bethel joined the majority, becoming the sole non-Republican member.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2018 General Election Official Results". Alaska Division of Elections. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  2. ^ Kelly, Devin (November 8, 2018). "Republicans organize Alaska House, choose Talerico as speaker". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  3. ^ The Associated Press (December 9, 2018). "State Rep. Knopp leaving GOP caucus in bid for coalition". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  4. ^ Brooks, James (January 16, 2019). "Alaska House convenes into deadlock as legislative session begins". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "House Democrat from Dillingham changes party affiliation to undeclared". Associated Press. February 14, 2019. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  6. ^ Brooks, James (February 14, 2019). "Monthlong Alaska House deadlock ends with Rep. Edgmon elected speaker and a coalition majority". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  7. ^ Brooks, James (February 16, 2019). "Alaska House, with new-look coalition, expects to open budget discussions Monday". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  8. ^ McGroarty, Erin (January 24, 2020). "Tammie Wilson to resign from Legislature". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  9. ^ Brooks, James (November 19, 2018). "Alaska Senate Republicans organize majority caucus, with Sen. Giessel as president". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  10. ^ Brooks, James (December 5, 2018). "Alaska Senate organization takes shape, one month from start of session". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
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