The addition of a new member to the Republican-led Alaskan Senate majority was announced Wednesday: Democratic Senator Donny Olson of Golovin.
Olson said in a release that he’s honored to join the group and “lend a strong voice for rural Alaskans.”
Bethel’s Senator Lyman Hoffman is the only other Democratic member, the rest of the majority is comprised of Republicans. Both Olson and Hoffman also serve together on the Senate Finance Committee.
Olson’s departure leaves four Democrats in the Senate minority. The group’s leader Senator Berta Gardner stated in a release that she’s disappointing with him leaving but said, “every legislator’s responsibility to make decisions which they feel are in the best interest of their district.”
She added that the majority will benefit from the influence of a member “with strong progressive values and interests,” including support for public education and Medicaid expansion.
