Alaska State House organizes without a majority

After the second-longest deadlock in Alaskan history, the Alaska House of Representatives organized last week. But due to several changes in caucus membership—including a member of the Republican group joining the multi-partisan coalition and a member from each coalition becoming independent—the House lacks a majority.

Despite neither side having enough votes to pass legislation on their own, lawmakers were able to pass committee assignments last Thursday and can officially begin work.

The even split that has for weeks divided the 40-member House was breached by Eagle River Republican Representative Kelly Merrick—first when she broke from her group to vote for the opposing coalition’s nomination for House Speaker, and again when she switched groups a few days later.

Merrick was the sole member to break from the Republican coalition and vote for the opposing group’s nomination for Kodiak Republican Louise Stutes as House speaker. Stutes is the sole Republican in a group that initially also included 15 Democrats and three independents. The vote passed and Stutes was elected House speaker on February 11. At the time, Merrick made clear that, despite her vote, she had not joined the opposite coalition. A few days later, though, Merrick announced that she had joined the mixed coalition, thereby bringing the caucus to 21 members—a majority.

The next day, Anchorage Republican Representative Sara Rasmussen left the House Republican Minority, dwindling the group to 18 members. Rasmussen, however, did not join the mixed group, but said she will not be affiliated with either caucus.

Shortly thereafter, Anchorage Democrat Representative Geran Tarr followed Rasmussen’s suit. Tarr left the mixed coalition and, like Rasmussen, will serve as an independent member. This means that the House is divided in an unprecedented 2018-1-1 split and thus again without a majority.

With 20 members, the multi-partisan coalition is one member short of the 21 votes needed to pass legislation on their own. However, the House was able to organize last

Thursday. The committee appointments passed the House in a 22 to 17 vote, with the independent members Rasmussen and Tarr siding with the multi-partisan coalition.

Chris Tuck, an Anchorage Democrat, was named majority leader and Cathy Tilton, a Wasilla Republican, will be the minority leader. Nome Representative Neal Foster, a Democrat, will co-chair the House Finance Committee along with Merrick.