Though Alaskans voted for Donald Trump this year by a wide margin, the trend at the state level runs counter to the rightward shift seen across the country this cycle.
There are still tens of thousands of votes across the state left to be counted, and some key races remain undetermined. But in the Alaska Legislature , members of bipartisan coalitions in the House and Senate are wasting no time in announcing their leadership and organizing their caucuses.
That means the Legislature as a whole will be more moderate than it has been for the past two years. Though Alaskans voted for Donald Trump this year by a wider margin than four years ago, the trend at the state level runs counter to the Right now, Democrats, independents and the two Republicans announced as coalition leaders are ahead in 22 House races. They need 21 to secure control, but there are two Anchorage races where Democrats hold leads of under 100 votes.
“I just think it may be just a little bit premature,” Wasilla Republican and House Majority Leader Cathy Tilton said by phone Wednesday evening shortly after the multiparty coalition claimed control of the House in a news release. “There’s a lot of votes still out there.” A bipartisan coalition will also continue to lead the Senate under very similar leadership to the past two years. Kodiak Republican Gary Stevens plans to stay on as Senate president.
If five or more senators decline to join the coalition, they could form a minority caucus that would guarantee them seats on Senate committees.
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