Alaska State Senate

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Alaska State Senate
SLP-Infobox Image-Color.png
General Information
Party control:   Split
Session start:   January 16, 2024
Session end:   May 15, 2024
Term length:   4 years
Term limits:   None
Redistricting:  Commission
Salary:   $50,400/year + per diem
Members
Total:  20
Democrats:  9
Republicans:  11
Other:  0
Vacancies:  0
Leadership
President:   Gary Stevens (R)
Maj. Leader:   Shelley Hughes (R)
Min. Leader:   TBD
Elections
Last election:  November 8, 2022
Next election:  November 5, 2024

The Alaska State Senate is the upper chamber of the Alaska State Legislature. Alongside the Alaska House of Representatives, it forms the legislative branch of the Alaska state government and works alongside the governor of Alaska to create laws and establish a state budget. Legislative authority and responsibilities of the Alaska State Senate include passing bills on public policy matters, setting levels for state spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold or override gubernatorial vetoes.

The Alaska State Senate meets in the state capitol building in Juneau, Alaska.

  • A total of 19 of 20 Alaska Senate seats were up for election in 2022. Republicans' numerical majority decreased from 13-7 to 11-9. Nine Democrats and eight Republicans announced the formation of a bipartisan coalition.
  • In 2020, 10 Alaska Senate seats were up for election. Republicans maintained their 13-7 numerical majority.
  • Alaska has a divided government where neither party holds a trifecta. The Republican Party controls the office of governor and the upper chamber of the state legislature. Control of the lower chamber of the state legislature is split between parties.

  • This page contains the following information on the Alaska State Senate.

    Party control

    Current partisan control

    The table below shows the partisan breakdown of the Alaska State Senate as of January 2024:

    Party As of January 2024
         Democratic Party 9
         Republican Party 11
         Other 0
         Vacancies 0
    Total 20

    Members

    Leadership

    The Senate president is the presiding officer of the Senate.[1]

    Leadership and members


    Office Name Party Date assumed office
    Alaska State Senate District A Bert Stedman Republican January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District B Jesse Kiehl Democratic January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District C Gary Stevens Republican January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District D Jesse Bjorkman Republican January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District E Catherine Giessel Republican January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District F James Kaufman Republican January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District G Elvi Gray-Jackson Democratic January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District H Matt Claman Democratic January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District I Loki Tobin Democratic January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District J Forrest Dunbar Democratic January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District K Bill Wielechowski Democratic January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District L Kelly Merrick Republican January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District M Shelley Hughes Republican January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District N David S. Wilson Republican January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District O Mike Shower Republican January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District P Scott Kawasaki Democratic January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District Q Robert Myers Jr. Republican January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District R Click Bishop Republican January 17, 2023
    Alaska State Senate District S Lyman Hoffman Democratic 1995
    Alaska State Senate District T Donald Olson Democratic 2001


    Salaries

    See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
    State legislative salaries, 2023
    SalaryPer diem
    $50,400/year$307/day

    Swearing in dates

    See also: When state legislators assume office after a general election

    Alaska legislators assume office on the third Tuesday of January following their election.[2][3]

    Membership qualifications

    See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

    Article II, Section 2 of the Alaska Constitution states: "A member of the legislature shall be a qualified voter who has been a resident of Alaska for at least three years and of the district from which elected for at least one year, immediately preceding his filing for office. A senator shall be at least twenty-five years of age and a representative at least twenty-one years of age."[4]

    Historical party control

    A multipartisan governing coalition has controlled the Alaska State Senate since 2022. Following the 2022 elections, the coalition included nine Republicans and eight Democrats.

    The table below shows the partisan history of the Alaska Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.

    Alaska State Senate election results: 1992-2022

    Year '92 '94 '96 '98 '00 '02 '04 '06[5] '08[6] '10[7] '12 '14 '16 '18 '20 '22[8]
    Democrats 9 8 7 5 6 8 8 9 10 10 7 6 6 7 7 9
    Republicans 10 12 13 15 14 11 12 11 10 10 13 14 14 13 13 11
    Independents 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

    Before 1992

    Of the 33 Alaska State Senate elections held between 1958 and 2022, 19 left the Democrats and Republicans within four seats of each other.


    Trifecta history

    A state government trifecta is a term that describes single party government, when one political party holds the governor's office and has majorities in both chambers of the legislature in a state government. Between 1992 and 2023, Alaska was under the following types of trifecta control:

    • Democratic trifecta: None
    • Republican trifecta: 2003-2006, 2013-2014
    • Divided government: 1992-2002, 2007-2012, 2015-2023

    Alaska Party Control: 1992-2024
    No Democratic trifectas  •  Six years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
    Governor I I R D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R I I I I R R R R R R
    Senate S R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R S S
    House D D D R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D S S S S S S

    Elections

    Elections by year

    Alaska state senators serve staggered, four-year terms and half of the Senate is up for election every two years. Alaska holds elections for its legislature in even years.

    2024

    See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2024

    Elections for the Alaska State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is August 20, 2024. The filing deadline is June 1, 2024.

    2022

    See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2022

    Elections for the Alaska State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for August 16, 2022. The filing deadline was June 1, 2022.

    In the 2022 elections, Republicans' numerical majority decreased from 13-7 to 11-9. Nine Democrats and eight Republicans announced the formation of a bipartisan coalition.

    Alaska State Senate
    Party As of November 8, 2022 After November 9, 2022
         Democratic Party 7 9
         Republican Party 13 11
    Total 20 20

    2020

    See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2020

    Elections for the office of Alaska State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for August 18, 2020. The filing deadline was June 1, 2020.

    In the 2020 elections, there was no change in the partisan balance of the Alaska State Senate.

    Alaska State Senate
    Party As of November 3, 2020 After November 4, 2020
         Democratic Party 7 7
         Republican Party 13 13
    Total 20 20

    2018

    See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2018

    Elections for the Alaska State Senate took place in 2018. A hybrid primary election took place on August 21, 2018.[9] The general election was held on November 6, 2018.[10] The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2018. The deadline for independent and minor party candidates to submit signatures was August 21, 2018.[11]

    In the 2018 elections, the Republican majority in the Alaska State Senate decreased from 14-6 to 13-7.

    Alaska State Senate
    Party As of November 6, 2018 After November 7, 2018
         Democratic Party 6 7
         Republican Party 14 13
    Total 20 20

    2016

    See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2016

    Elections for the Alaska State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 16, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016. A total of 10 seats out of the 20 seats in the Alaska State Senate were up for election in 2016. No changes occurred to the partisan balance of the chamber.

    Alaska State Senate
    Party As of November 7, 2016 After November 8, 2016
         Democratic Party 6 6
         Republican Party 14 14
    Total 20 20

    Vacancies

    See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

    If there is a vacancy in the Alaska State Legislature, the governor is responsible for selecting a replacement. The governor must select the replacement within 30 days after the vacancy happens. The governor may not appoint a replacement if the vacancy happens before a new legislative session is scheduled to convene.[19]

    DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Alaska Stat. §15.40.320

    District map

    See also: Alaska state legislative districts

    The state of Alaska has 20 state Senate districts. Each district elects one senator.

    Use the interactive map below to find your district.



    Redistricting

    See also: Redistricting in Alaska

    Because Alaska has only one congressional district, congressional redistricting is not necessary. A non-politician commission draws state legislative district lines. In place since 1998, Alaska's redistricting commission comprises five members. Two commissioners are appointed by the governor, one by the state Senate majority leader, one by the state House majority leader, and one by the chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. State law mandates that commissioners "be chosen without regard to party affiliation." One commissioner must be selected from each of the state's judicial districts.[20]

    The Alaska Constitution requires that state legislative districts be contiguous and compact. Furthermore, every state legislative district must contain a "relatively integrated socio-economic area." Each state legislative district is served by one state senator and two state representatives.[20]

    2020

    See also: Redistricting in Alaska after the 2020 census

    Alaska completed its state legislative redistricting on May 24, 2022, when the Alaska Redistricting Board adopted a new map of state Senate districts at the direction of the state supreme court. In its ruling, the Alaska Supreme Court upheld a May 16, 2022, decision by the Third District of Alaska's Superior Court that determined that the mapping of state House districts to Senate ones was unconstitutional and ordered the Alaska Redistricting Board to adopt another proposed plan for pairing the districts. Click here to read more about litigation surrounding Alaska's legislative boundaries. These maps took effect for Alaska's 2022 legislative elections.

    Alaska had initially enacted legislative district boundaries on November 10, 2021, following a 3-2 vote by the Alaska Redistricting Board. The three Republican-appointed board members voted in favor of the map and the two nonpartisan board members voted against it.[21] On March 25, 2022, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that one state House and one state Senate district did not comply with the state constitution and required they be redrawn.[22] The Alaska Redistricting Board adopted new legislative district boundaries to comply with the state supreme court's ruling on April 13, 2022.[23]

    District map before and after 2020 redistricting

    Below is the state Senate map in effect before and after the 2020 redistricting cycle.

    Alaska State Senate Districts
    before 2020 redistricting cycle

    Click a district to compare boundaries.

    Alaska State Senate Districts
    after 2020 redistricting cycle

    Click a district to compare boundaries.


    2010

    See also: Redistricting in Alaska after the 2010 census

    The Alaska Redistricting Board officially began the work of legislative redistricting with a public meeting on March 16, 2011.[24] On April 13, 2011, the preliminary redistricting maps for the Alaska State Legislature were released.[25] The Redistricting Board submitted the state’s redistricting plan to the Department of Justice on August 11, 2011, for pre-clearance as required under the Voting Rights Act.[26] The U.S. Department of Justice approved Alaska's legislative redistricting plan on October 11, 2011.[27] On December 28, 2012, the Alaska Supreme Court ordered the state's redistricting plan be redrawn for the 2014 elections, ruling that the Redistricting Board did not follow the process as instructed by the court.[28] On July 14, 2013, the Alaska Redistricting Board adopted its 2013 Proclamation Plan.[29][30]

    Sessions

    Legislation

    The legislation tracker below displays all legislation that the Alaska State Senate has approved in its most recent legislative session—this includes legislation that has been sent from the Senate to the House and legislation that has already been approved by both chambers and signed by the governor. The table below includes the bill number, its name, progress, most recent action date, and sponsor. Scroll up and down and side to side to see more. Click the bill number to read the bill text and see its voting history. Click the headings to sort the content. Rearrange the order of the headings by clicking and dragging them. Click the magnifying glass in the bottom left corner to search for specific terms. The legislation tracker is maintained and updated by BillTrack50.

    Dates of legislative sessions in Alaska by year

    2024

    See also: 2024 Alaska legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions

    In 2024, the legislature is scheduled to convene on January 16, 2024, and adjourn on May 15, 2024.

    2023

    See also: 2023 Alaska legislative session and Dates of 2023 state legislative sessions

    In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 17, 2023, and adjourn on May 17, 2023.



    About legislative sessions in Alaska

    The Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution declares that any power not already given to the federal government is reserved to the states and the people.[43] State governments across the country use this authority to hold legislative sessions where a state's elected representatives meet for a period of time to draft and vote on legislation and set state policies on issues such as taxation, education, and government spending. The different types of legislation passed by a legislature may include resolutions, legislatively referred constitutional amendments, and bills that become law.

    Section 8 of Article II of the Alaska Constitution contains provisions relating to the timing and length of sessions of the Alaska State Legislature, of which the Senate is a part. However, the provisions related to the convening date of the Legislature have been changed by law, and the provisions limiting the length of legislative sessions have been changed by the Alaska 90-Day Legislative Session Amendment. This amendment was passed in a 2006 ballot initiative, and it limits the regular sessions of the Legislature to ninety days.

    Section 9 of Article II allows for special sessions to be called by the governor of Alaska or by a two-thirds vote of the legislators. Special sessions are limited to thirty days.

    Legislative roles and procedures

    Every state legislature throughout the country features its own internal procedures that it uses to govern itself and how it interacts with other parts of state government. Ballotpedia's coverage of internal state legislative procedures includes veto overrides, the role of the legislature in the state budget, and procedures for filling membership vacancies.

    Veto overrides

    Veto Override Graphic-No party.png

    See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures

    State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Alaska are listed below.

    How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members in a joint session.

    Two-thirds of all legislators in a joint session must vote to override a veto, which is 40 of the 60 members in both chambers of the Alaska State Legislature. Alaska is the only state that requires a two-thirds vote from its combined legislative chambers to override a veto.

    How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?

    According to Article II, Section 16 of the Alaska Constitution, bills vetoed following the first year of the legislative session can be overridden during a special session or in the regular session the following year. Bills vetoed following the second regular session can only be overridden in a special session, which can be called by two-thirds of legislators.[44]

    Are there other special rules?

    If the governor vetoes a revenue or appropriation bill, a three-fourths vote by the legislature is required to override the veto, which is 45 of 60 legislators.[45]

    Authority: Article II, Section 16 of the Alaska Constitution.

    "Upon receipt of a veto message during a regular session of the legislature, the legislature shall meet immediately in joint session and reconsider passage of the vetoed bill or item. Bills to raise revenue and appropriation bills or items, although vetoed, become law by affirmative vote of three-fourths of the membership of the legislature. Other vetoed bills become law by affirmative vote of two-thirds of the membership of the legislature."

    Role in state budget

    See also: Alaska state budget and finances
    Alaska on Public Policy Logo-one line-on Ballotpedia.png
    Check out Ballotpedia articles about policy in your state on:
    BudgetsCivil libertiesEducationElectionsEnergyEnvironmentHealthcarePensions

    The state operates on an annual budget cycle, with the fiscal year beginning July 1 and ending June 30. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[46]

    1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in July.
    2. Agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in October.
    3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature by December 15.
    4. The legislature adopts a budget by a simple majority in April.

    The governor is required by statute to submit a balanced budget. Likewise, the legislature is required by statute to pass a balanced budget.[46]

    Alaska is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[46]

    Committees

    See also: List of committees in Alaska state government

    Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.

    • Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
    • Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
    • Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.

    Ballotpedia covers standing and special committees in Alaska. The Alaska State Senate has 10 standing committees:


    Constitutional amendments

    In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.

    The methods in which the Alaska Constitution can be amended:

    See also: Article XIII of the Alaska Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Alaska

    The Alaska Constitution provides two mechanisms for amending the state's constitution—a legislative process, and a state constitutional convention. Alaska requires a simple majority vote (50% plus 1) for voters to approve constitutional amendments. Alaskans do not have the power to use a citizen initiative to amend the state's constitution. The power of initiative in Alaska is restricted to proposing state statutes.

    Legislature

    See also: Legislatively referred constitutional amendment

    A two-thirds vote in each legislative chamber of the Alaska State Legislature during one legislative session to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 27 votes in the Alaska House of Representatives and 14 votes in the Alaska State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.

    Convention

    See also: Convention-referred constitutional amendment

    According to Section 3 of Article 13 of the Alaska Constitution, a question about whether to hold a state constitutional convention is to automatically appear on the state's ballot every 10 years starting in 1970. Alaska is one of 14 states that provides for an automatic constitutional convention question.

    The table below shows the last and next constitutional convention question election years:

    State Interval Last question on the ballot Next question on the ballot
    Alaska 10 years 2022 2032



    2025 measures:

    See also: 2025 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.

    No measures to list

    2024 measures:

    Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.

    See also: Alaska 2024 ballot measures

    Certified:

    The following measures have been certified for the ballot.

    No measures to list


    Potential:

    The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.

    No measures to list

    See also

    Elections Alaska State Government State Legislatures State Politics
    Ballotpedia Elections Badge-VOTE-no shadow-Square.jpg
    Alaska State Flag-Close Up.jpg
    State Houses-Tile image.png
    State Courts-Tile image.png

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. Alaska House of Representatives, "Glossary of Legislative Terms," accessed February 8, 2021
    2. JUSTIA US Law, "Alaska Statutes, Sec. 24.05.080," accessed November 1, 2021
    3. Alaska’s Constitution, "A Citizen’s Guide," accessed November 1, 2021
    4. Office of Lt. Governor, "The Constitution of the State of Alaska - Article II – The Legislature," accessed January 24, 2023
    5. Nine Democrats and six Republicans formed a 15-member governing coalition.
    6. Ten Democrats and six Republicans formed a 16-member governing coalition.
    7. Ten Democrats and five Republicans formed a 15-member governing coalition.
    8. Eight Democrats and nine Republicans formed a 17-member governing coalition.
    9. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Systems," accessed March 23, 2017
    10. Alaska Division of Elections, "Primary Election Information," accessed May 31, 2017
    11. Alaska Division of Elections, "Candidate Filing Forms and Information," accessed May 31, 2017
    12. Anchorage Daily News, "New legislative map forces early elections for senators," June 13, 2011
    13. Follow the Money, "Alaska State Senate 2010 Campaign Contributions," accessed April 23, 2015
    14. Follow the Money, "Alaska 2008 Candidates," accessed April 10, 2013
    15. Follow the Money, "Alaska 2006 Candidates," accessed April 10, 2013
    16. Follow the Money, "Alaska 2004 Candidates," accessed April 10, 2013
    17. Follow the Money, "Alaska 2002 Candidates," accessed April 10, 2013
    18. Follow the Money, "Alaska 2000 Candidates," accessed April 10, 2013
    19. Alaska State Legislature, " Sec. 15.40.320. Condition and time for filling vacancy by appointment," accessed February 8, 2021 (Statute 15.40.320)
    20. 20.0 20.1 All About Redistricting, "Alaska," accessed April 17, 2015
    21. The Midnight Sun, "‘I pray litigation is swift and just.’ Redistricting Board finalizes plan with attempted dig at dissenters," Nov. 10, 2021
    22. Alaska Supreme Court, "In the Matter of the 2021 Redistricting Cases," March 25, 2022
    23. Alaska Redistricting Board, "Amended Proclamation of Redistricting," April 13, 2022
    24. Alaska Dispatch, "Alaska redistricting board gets to work, " March 16, 2011
    25. Alaska Dispatch, "Alaska redistricting plan offers 2 regional alternatives," April 13, 2011
    26. The Arctic Sounder, "Final Alaska redistricting plan goes to Justice Department," August 11, 2011
    27. Alaska Public Radio, "Redistricting Plan Approved by Justice Department," October 12, 2011
    28. Anchorage Daily News, "High court orders redistricting plan be redrawn," December 28, 2012
    29. alaskadispatch.com, "Alaska Redistricting Board adopts revised voting district map," July 14, 2013
    30. Alaska Redistricting Board, "2013 Proclamation Plan," July 14, 2013
    31. Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska Legislature approves $4.5 billion budget plus $1,000 Permanent Fund dividend, then departs Juneau," March 29, 2020
    32. Multistate, "2020 Legislative Session Dates," last updated May 20, 2020
    33. newsminer.com, "Alaska legislators begin what's shaping up to be long, tough session," January 20, 2016
    34. KTUU, "Alaska Legislature to get underway; budget a big issue," January 20, 2015
    35. www.newsminer.com/, "Alaska lawmakers prepare for first legislative session of 2014," accessed January 22, 2014
    36. juneauempire.com, "Oil taxes to top agenda for next Legislature," accessed April 22, 2015
    37. ktuu.com, "Alaska Legislative Session Adjourns," April 15, 2013
    38. ncsl.org, "2012 Legislative Session Calendar," accessed April 21, 2015
    39. Anchorage Daily News, "Lingering issues to test Legislature," January 16, 2012
    40. Juneau Empire, "Operating budget agreement helps clear way to end of session," May 4, 2011
    41. ncsl.org, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed April 21, 2015
    42. Anchorage Daily News, "House votes down bill to save coastal management program," June 28, 2011
    43. Find Law, "Tenth Amendment - U.S. Constitution," accessed May 20, 2017
    44. National Conference of State Legislatures, "Special Sessions," accessed June 28, 2017
    45. National Conference of State Legislatures, "The Veto Process," accessed June 22, 2017
    46. 46.0 46.1 46.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023