By SUZANNE DOWNING
April 27, 2026 – On paper, the Alaska State Senate appears to be led by Republicans. In practice, it is governed by a Democrat-led coalition that has left many voters questioning what party labels actually mean in Alaska politics. This is a set up that has been only enhanced by ranked-choice voting in Alaska.
At the top of the chamber sit Gary Stevens, a Republican from Kodiak who serves as Senate president, and Cathy Giessel, an Anchorage Republican who holds the title of majority leader. Both occupy positions of power typically associated with the dominant party.
But they don’t lead a traditional Republican majority.
Instead, Stevens and Giessel are part of a governing group made up of all nine Democrats and a bloc of Republicans who have chosen to caucus with them . That bloc controls committee assignments, the flow of legislation, and the state budget.
That coalition also includes Republicans Jesse Bjorkman of Kenai, Kelly Merrick of Eagle River, and Bert Stedman of Sitka, all of whom hold influence within the majority structure.
Meanwhile, the actual Republican caucus, those who do not align with Democrats, is smaller and sits in the minority. It is led by Mike Cronk of Tok/Northway.
The result is a political dynamic that has become increasingly common in Juneau but remains unusual compared to most other states: Republicans holding leadership titles while relying on Democratic support to maintain power.
Conservatives say the arrangement amounts to a betrayal of party principles. When Republican lawmakers caucus with Democrats, they effectively hand control of the chamber to a coalition that advances policies out of step with the party’s platform. The term “turncoat” is the apt alternative to the more-frequently-used RINO label (Republican in Name Only).
The structure has consequences.
For voters, the lines between parties appear blurred. A candidate may run as a Republican, campaign on conservative themes, and then join a coalition governed in partnership with Democrats once elected. That disconnect has fueled skepticism and, in some cases, primary challenges from within the party. Queue Jesse Bjorkman and Kelly Merrick.
The same model extends beyond the Senate. In the Alaska House of Representatives, a bipartisan majority coalition also governs, despite Republicans holding a numerical edge in seats.
Together, the two chambers reflect a broader shift in Alaska politics, where power positions outweigh team loyalty, and where the actual political identity a candidate declares carries less predictive power.
One thing is clear: In Juneau, the letter next to a lawmaker’s name is no longer a reliable guide to how they will govern.
10 thoughts on “Turncoat Republicans are eroding public’s faith in Republican Party”
I still think the next governor of AK should call on the legislators to move the next session to a road system.
The schools that are closing have to be maintained no matter. Lets use the closed school buildings for legislators to meet and have their session on a road system. We the people could get to them. Cut their 84,000 and perdiem pay down. That would save the tax payers quite abit.
Oh well, this falls on deaf ears! Think people, think! Blessings, W.
A valid if somewhat understated take on the matter. Why vote for the R when you can’t believe a word they say? The Republican Party should expel these toads, and charge a significant cash deposit from candidates which will be forfeit should they be elected and betray the principles they espoused while running.
Indeed(!), the “toads” should be removed and I’m pretty sure there’s a legal process for that, although it’s probably a lengthy process. I just fathom a “R” candidate not completely embracing the party platform, attached here for your reference: https://alaskagop.net/about/platform/ … But rather, the intentional and outright subversion – deception – manipulation of these Rhino’s // Turncoats. They certainly deserve more harsh consequences than the legal process, and they’ll most likely get that upon Judgement Day. Until then, we gotta do a better job at vetting these candidates!!!
What is even the point of having “Republicans” run who just want to steal our PFD’s for more spending on broken schools?!? Looking at each and every one of those veto override votes, including Republicans who usually caucus with Republicans.
They should include a requirement to withdraw from the General if you aren’t the top Republican in the Primary, or surrender the deposit as well. Otherwise we are just encouraging RINOs to sabotage real Conservatives.
Bernadette Wilson for Governor!
Agree. And such should be added to the Stste party bylaws. As it stands now our party has no teeth to hold the frauds accountable.
Was the current Alaskan Republican Party leadership negligent for the last few years to galvanize a concerted effort to take action? If they say they did or blame it on the District Chairs, why was it not effective and ongoing? Grassroots still need a collective leadership to bring 40 district taking-heads together. Healthy criticism must not be ignored; taken and fixed.
For the last FEW years. Its more like for the last thirty years, you guys who are over 50 just didn’t notice until Alaska The Republican Party lost so much territory to the AkDemocrats that they running candidates hard races in districts that was once was considered “safe” seat for AKGOP
Yes. Criticism among leaders is not unhealthy and leaders shouldn’t be so thin skinned they take it personally. If one is a leader who takes criticism personally and easily offended and gets their feelings easily hurt, then they are not the right person for ANY leadership because leaders carry more weight and responsibility. Choices out of leaders either improves community and neighbors lives or their choices crushes communities and destroys lives like we are witnessing today in Alaska
The republicans leadership are voted in there by their district voters and RCV is still not yet on play deciding legislative races.
The voters of those Republican districts with questionable Republicans those district voters need to be smarter. There is no reason Eagleriver-Chugiak-Birchwood-peterscreek should be sending Merrick to the legislature not only once as Representative but also a second time as a Senator. That’s really stupid and that’s on the voters.
Make no Mistake
The “Imposter Republican” is a deliberate purposeful tactic of the leftists democrats!
No.1 Its a surefire way of getting elected in a generally red state like Alaska. Pretend you are a Republican!
No.2 After one or two election cycles that solidify the incumbent there is a high likelihood of being returned to office.
And No. 3, The most diabolical result as this article points out,,,,,, it erodes any faith in the Republican party!
I spoke to that evil witch Giessel, in a one-on-one a few years ago . And I baited her with a bunch of leftist mantras after I got her talking and she totally leaned into the socialist credo.
She revealed her true self to me!
Giessel and her ilk are a dangerous force determined to make Alaska a Blue Welfare state.
The reason she is against the Gas line is that it will bring new energetic private sector workers to the state that will challenge the union labor force for control of state and local government.
Her goal and the goal of the Green socialists is to drive the private sector, more conservative population out of the state so the remaining government and union workers can exploit the permanent fund. No different than selfish vicious heirs fighting over the estate of a dead parent or relative. An ugly vision of Alaska’s future that can only be reversed if we get the Gas line going and bring new young working families into the State.
SA