Anchorage's Giessel to lead Alaska Senate in 35th Legislature

Cathy Giessel will serve as Alaska Senate President for the 35th State Legislature, according to a Wednesday announcement from a bipartisan coalition of senators. The Anchorage Republican is leading the 35th Legislature's top office after a strong showing in the recent election. As of Wednesday afternoon results, Giessel held a 61% lead in her bid for re-election. She has served in the state Senate since 2011.

Giessel previously held the Senate President title from 2019 to 2022. From 2023 to 2026, she served as Senate Majority Leader and chaired the Senate Resources Committee. Her return to the top leadership role marks a shift in the chamber's operational structure for the next two years.

The leadership team emerges from a coalition first formed in 2022 under Kodiak Republican Gary Stevens. This group is moving to establish itself as the Senate Majority coalition in the upcoming session. However, the final membership numbers remain unconfirmed. The Alaska Division of Elections is still counting thousands of ballots, and some winners are deciding which caucus to join. The coalition needs at least 11 members to hold a majority in the 20-member chamber. Final election results are scheduled for certification on Nov. 25.

In an interview, Giessel outlined the legislative agenda for the next session. She identified public education funding, the revival of a public pension system, election reform, and energy as top priorities. Despite a surge in state revenues driven by high oil prices, Giessel said the leadership team would adopt a balanced approach to spending. She stated that the coalition would focus on priority budget items first and avoid a spending spree, noting that the group agreed to keep the budget constrained.

The coalition named senator-elect Louise Stutes, a Kodiak Republican, as Senate Majority Leader. Stutes is running for the Senate for the first time, representing a district that includes Kodiak Island, the southern Kenai Peninsula, and Prince William Sound communities. She has served in the Alaska House since 2015. As of Wednesday afternoon, Stutes had received 48.6% of the vote, leading Republican Heath Smith, who had 39.7%.

Bryce Edgon, a Dillingham independent and former House Speaker, was appointed co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee. Edgon is running for one of the state's largest districts, which extends from Western Alaska to the Aleutian Islands. As of Wednesday, he had received 36.1% of the vote. He led Republican Darren Deacon, who had 26.8%, and Democrat Wissilie Guy, who had 24.8%. Many absentee and mail ballots from the rural region remain uncounted.

Bill Wielechowski, an Anchorage Democrat who ran unopposed, will serve as Senate Rules Chair. He has served in the Senate since 2007 and has chaired the Rules Committee since 2023. Jesse Kiehl, a Juneau Democrat who was not up for re-election, was named co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee. Kiehl has been a member of that committee since 2023 and was first elected to the Senate in 2018.

Wielechowski issued a statement saying the team brings experience representing communities across the state and working across party lines. He said the coalition would focus on lowering costs for families, ensuring Alaska receives its fair share for resources, and implementing election reform. The group aims to ensure that every urban and rural community has a seat at the table.

Giessel said the coalition has not yet formally met with Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, the Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner. She indicated that meetings between the two groups would likely begin later this month.