While Democrats in the state house did not win an outright majority in Tuesday’s election, they’ve joined moderate Republicans to assemble a majority caucus to take control of the Alaskan House.
The 22-member House Majority was announced Wednesday, drawing a quick condemnation from the chairman of the state Republican Party.
Members include Independent Daniel Ortiz, who was re-elected in Ketchikan, Republican Representative Gabrielle LeDoux of Anchorage, Paul Seaton of Homer, and Louise Stutes, who narrowly won re-election in Kodiak.
The Majority selected Representative Bryce Edgmon of Dillingham as the House Speaker, a Democrat who has served with the Republican-led Majority before.
Edgmon says the bipartisan caucus is focused on and committed to crafting a responsible budget.
Rep. Bryce Edgmon (D-Dillingham): “You’re looking at a determined group of legislators who want to put the budget, the fiscal challenge front and center. We want to make the choices that we think will protect that, again, those services that are important to our constituents.”
The Alaska Republican Party sent a letter to the group demanding they quit the party and the crossover members return any money given for their re-election.
In the Senate Republicans have maintained a 15-member majority with the help of Democrat Lyman Hoffman of Bethel.
Fairbanks Senator Pete Kelly was selected as the new Senate President.
*Photo courtesy of Associated Press/Mark Thiessen. Caption: House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, D-Dillingham, speaks to reporters at a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska, on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016. The new House majority caucus announced Edgmon as speaker and other leadership posts following the general election this week. *