The Alaska State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is a bicameral institution consisting of the 40-member Alaska House of Representatives and the 20-member Alaska Senate. There are 40 House Districts (1–40) and 20 Senate Districts (A–T). With a total of 60 lawmakers,the Alaska State Legislature is the smallest bicameral state legislature in the United States and the second-smallest of all state legislatures. There are no term limits for either chamber. The Alaska State Legislature meets in the Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. The current meeting since 2023 is the 33rd Alaska State Legislature. The previous meeting,the 32nd Alaska State Legislature,met from 2021 to 2023.
In U.S. politics,an independent Democrat is an individual who loosely identifies with the ideals of the Democratic Party but chooses not to be a formal member of the party or is denied the Democratic nomination in a caucus or primary election. Independent Democrat is not a political party. Several elected officials,including members of Congress,have identified as independent Democrats.
The Alaska political corruption probe refers to a 2003 to 2010 widespread investigation by the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice,the Federal Bureau of Investigation,and the Internal Revenue Service into political corruption of nine then-current or former Alaskan state lawmakers,as well as Republican US Representative Don Young and then-US Senator,Republican Ted Stevens. Sometimes referred to as "The Corrupt Bastards Club" or the "Operation Polar Pen",the investigation focused on the oil industry,fisheries and for-profit prison industries.
The Alaska Republican Party is the affiliate of the Republican Party in Alaska,headquartered in Anchorage.
Dennis William Egan was an American politician who was a member of the Alaska Senate representing Juneau from April 19,2009,until January 15,2019. A member of the Democratic Party,he previously served as the mayor of Juneau from February 13,1995,to October 3,2000,and was a member of the local assembly prior to that. Outside of politics,he was known for his work as a radio broadcaster,most notably for KINY,and was inducted to the Alaskan Broadcaster Association's Hall of Fame in 2001.
Johnny Ellis was an American politician who served as a member of the Alaska Senate from 1992 to 2017. He was previously a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1986 through 1992.
Bill P. Wielechowski is an American lawyer serving as a Democratic member of the Alaska Senate representing District K,which is located in Northeast Anchorage,Alaska. Prior to the 2022 redistricting process,he represented District H from 2013 to 2023. Wielechowski also previously represented District J from 2007 to 2013.
Donald C. "Donny" Olson is an American physician,attorney,commercial pilot,reindeer herder,and politician,currently serving as a member of the Alaska Senate since 2001. Olson represents rural communities in Western Alaska and Arctic Alaska including Nome,Kotzebue,and Utqiagvik.
Lesil Lynn McGuire is an American politician in the state of Alaska. She served as a Republican member of the Alaska Senate from 2007 until 2017,after her tenure as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 2000 through 2006. She served Senate District N until redistricting in 2012 placed her in District K for 2013.
Scott Jiu Wo Kawasaki is an American healthcare professional and politician from Alaska. A Democrat,he is a member of the Alaska Senate representing the state's District P,which includes neighborhoods within the city limits of Fairbanks.
Neal Richard Foster was a Democratic member of the Alaska House of Representatives,representing various districts centered on Nome,Alaska from 1989 until his death. Though a Democrat,he frequently caucused with the Republicans and served for a period of time as the Majority Whip.
Matthew W. Claman is an American politician and attorney serving as a member of the Alaska Senate since 2023,representing West Anchorage. Claman previously served as a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 2015 until 2023;the acting mayor of Anchorage from in 2009,and a member of the Anchorage Assembly from 2007 until 2010.
Neal Winston Foster is a member of the Alaska House of Representatives,representing the 39th District,which is centered on Nome,Alaska. He has served in the House since November 15,2009. He was appointed to the House to replace his father,Richard Foster,who had died in office the previous month. In the 27th Alaska State Legislature,Foster joined along with the other three Democrats from Western Alaska,Bryce Edgmon,Bob Herron and Reggie Joule,as members in the Republican-led majority caucus in the House.
Catherine Andrea Giessel is an American politician. A member of the Republican Party,she has served as Majority Leader of the Alaska Senate since 2023. From 2013 to 2021,Giessel represented District N in the Alaska Senate,including Northeast Anchorage,Anchorage Hillside and the Turnagain Arm communities of Bird,Girdwood,Indian,and Anchorage,all within the Municipality of Anchorage. First elected in 2010 while identifying with Tea Party values,she has also served as the vice-chair of the state Republican Party and had a career in nursing. Following redistricting,she was elected to a different senate seat in 2012. Giessel serves as chair of the Resources Committee and is a member of the Senate Majority Caucus. After Senate President Pete Kelly was unseated in 2018,Giessel was elected president of the Alaska Senate,a post she held until 2021. Giessel returned to the Alaska Senate in 2023,representing the newly configured District E after defeating incumbent Republican Roger Holland. She serves as Senate majority leader in the 33rd Legislature,overseeing a coalition caucus of eight Republicans and nine Democrats.
Lora H. Reinbold is an American politician who was a member of the Alaska Senate. She was a member of the Alaska House from 2013 to 2019,representing District 26. In 2018,Reinbold was elected to the Alaska State Senate representing the G district. She served in the State Senate from 2019 until retiring in 2023. From 2015 to the end of her tenure,Reinbold was the only member of the Alaska State Legislature unaffiliated with a caucus organization,as she was ejected from the Republican-led majority caucus in March 2015.
Kevin Gerald Meyer is an American politician who served as the 14th lieutenant governor of Alaska from 2018 to 2022. He was a Republican member of the Alaska Senate from January 20,2009 to December 3,2018,representing District M. He was president of the Alaska Senate,leading a caucus of 14 Republicans and 1 Democrat from 2015 to 2017. Meyer served in the Alaska Legislature continuously from 2003 to 2018,in both the Alaska House of Representatives and Senate,previously representing the district when it was District O. He works as an investment recovery coordinator for ConocoPhillips.
Kelly Merrick is an American politician from Alaska. A Republican,Merrick was elected to the Alaska State Senate in 2022,representing District L in Eagle River. She was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 2019 to 2023. She took office as State Senator on January 17,2023.
Forrest Dunbar is an American politician,attorney,and military officer. He is a member of the Alaska Senate,representing East Anchorage District J since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party,he previously served on the Anchorage Assembly from 2016 to 2023. He is a major and Judge Advocate in the Alaska Army National Guard.
The Anchorage Assembly is the governing body of Anchorage,Alaska. The Assembly has twelve members elected to three-year terms from six districts. It is responsible for creating and approving the city's annual budget,appropriating municipal funding,and managing elections. Seats in the Assembly are officially nonpartisan.
The 2022 Alaska Senate elections took place on November 8,2022,with the primary elections being held on August 16,2022. State senators serve four-year terms in the Alaska Senate,with half of the seats normally up for election every two years. However,because most districts were greatly changed in redistricting,elections were held for 19 of the 20 seats;the only exception is District T,represented by Democrat Donny Olson,which was mostly unchanged in redistricting and thus did not have an election. Some senators were elected to serve four-year terms,while others would serve shortened two-year terms.
