By Suzanne Downing 
Republican members of the Alaska State Senate on Saturday confirmed the appointments of former House Rep. Cathy Tilton of Wasilla and Rep. George Rauscher of Sutton to fill two vacant seats in the upper chamber. The seats became empty upon the resignation of Sen. Mike Shower, who is now a candidate for lieutenant governor with gubernatorial candidate Bernadette Wilson, and Sen. Shelley Hughes, who resigned when she became a candidate for governor.
The confirmations follow Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s nominations earlier this month. Both Tilton and Rauscher had been the top picks in their respective district meetings, giving them strong grassroots support heading into Friday’s vote.
The pair bring substantial legislative experience to the Senate Republican caucus, which is in the minority. With a combined nearly two decades in the Alaska House, both lawmakers have long been regarded as steady conservatives within the Legislature.
Tilton, who served as Speaker of the House for one term, said she intends to bring the same approach to the Senate that defined her years in the House, emphasizing tenacity and principled leadership.
Rauscher, now representing District O in the Senate, also expressed gratitude for the chamber’s approval and said he looks forward to continuing his work on behalf of his constituents.
Senate Republicans said they are pleased to welcome two members who align closely with the caucus’s conservative priorities and who have built reputations as reliable advocates for Alaska communities.
Tilton and Rauscher will serve in the Seante through the remainder of the current legislative term and participate in the 2026 session, where the Senate is expected to tackle significant issues including energy development, crime policy, and the state’s long-term fiscal outlook. They have both also filed to run for those respective Senate seats in 2026.
Meanwhile, House District 26 and 29 will be meeting on Dec. 7 at the Best Western hotel in the Mat-Su to consider who members will nominate to Gov. Dunleavy to replace Tilton and Rauscher. The process begins as soon as the two submit their formal resignations upon being sworn in this weekend.