By Suzanne Downing 
Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Tuesday appointed two Mat-Su lawmakers to fill open Senate seats created as sitting legislators step aside to run for higher office in 2026.
Rep. George Rauscher was named to Senate Seat O, succeeding Sen. Mike Shower, who resigned to run for lieutenant governor on a ticket with Bernadette Wilson. Rep. Cathy Tilton was appointed to Senate Seat M, filling the vacancy left by Sen. Shelley Hughes, who stepped down to run for governor.
“I can’t think of two Alaskans more qualified and committed to public service to serve in the Alaska Senate than Representatives Rauscher and Tilton,” said Gov. Dunleavy. “I have known and worked with both for as long as I have been in public office and I look forward to working collaboratively with them as senators. I also want to thank the local Republican district committees for taking the time to meet, deliberate, and send forward names for these seats. This process works best when the people closest to the communities are involved.”
Both districts are anchored in the Wasilla area, and both appointees have long, trusting working relationships with the governor. With Rauscher and Tilton already serving in the House and repeatedly winning their districts by strong margins, Senate confirmation is expected to move forward without much controversy.
Rauscher, first elected in 2016, told the governor in his application packet that serving the people of the Mat-Su and Copper River regions has been an honor, and that he is prepared to continue that work in the Senate with the same level of dedication and conservative consistency that has marked his nine years in the House. He emphasized his broad district, from Sutton to Valdez, and said he has always taken pride in being accessible to constituents and making sure rural voices are heard in Juneau.
He outlined his conservative record, pointing to his status as the highest-rated currently serving Alaska legislator on the CPAC scorecard. That rating, he said, reflects his willingness to vote in alignment with Republican principles regardless of political pressure. As a long-time Mat-Su resident with deep experience in the construction and oil industries, Rauscher noted that he brings firsthand knowledge of Alaska’s economic backbone and the discipline required to balance budgets and meet payroll, skills he says translate into responsible governance.
Rauscher highlighted his work as House Majority Whip under then-Speaker Tilton, chair of the House Energy Committee, vice chair of House Resources, and his service on key Finance Subcommittees including Environmental Conservation and Commerce. He also pointed to his leadership roles chairing the legislative prayer caucus and overseeing legislative prison ministry efforts during the session, which he said have drawn Democrats, Independents, and Republicans alike. With nine pieces of legislation passed during his nine years in office, seven of those years spent in the minority, he told the governor he has gained valuable experience in bringing people together to accomplish meaningful work.
If confirmed, Rauscher said his priorities remain clear: lowering energy costs, protecting the Permanent Fund and the dividend, defending constitutional rights, keeping Alaska competitive for families and businesses, and maintaining fiscal restraint. He pledged to be a steady, reliable voice for Mat-Su and Valdez and a dependable partner within the Republican caucus in both chambers.
Tilton, a six-term House member and prior House Speaker, made her case in a detailed application packet that noted her legislative accomplishments grounded in fiscal restraint, limited government, and personal responsibility, and emphasized her leadership roles as Speaker, Minority Leader, and Minority Whip. She said her approach has always been to listen, engage stakeholders, and pursue practical solutions that reflect conservative values and the priorities of Alaskans.
Tilton also mentioned her selection for several prestigious leadership programs, including the Council of State Governments’ Western Legislative Academy, the State Legislative Leadership Foundation’s Emerging Legislative Leaders Program, and the Henry Toll Fellowship. She serves as the House representative to CSG-West and maintains an active role in conservative policy organizations, including serving as Alaska co-chair of ALEC and on the board of Maggie’s List, a national PAC that supports Republican women running for federal office.
She told the governor she is ready to bring her experience and perspective to the Senate, advocating for responsible budgeting, strong communities, and protection of Alaska’s heritage and natural resources.
The Alaska Senate Republican caucus will take up both confirmations in the coming days, with both Rauscher and Tilton expected to win enough votes to be confirmed. With Dunleavy’s appointments, the Mat-Su delegation remains firmly aligned with the governor as the state enters a pivotal election year and his final year in office.
Gov. Dunleavy recognized the outgoing senators, Mike Shower and Shelley Hughes who have been strong voices for the Mat-Su and for Alaska. “I appreciate their years of service in the Senate and the work they’ve done on behalf of their constituents,” Dunleavy said.
How can either of these legislators claim to have demonstrated fiscal restraint? The state budget has grown dramatically during their tenure.
Rauscher and Tilton are well-respected conservatives in the Mat-Su Valley who have served their communities well. They will be great additions to they Senate