On February 11, Alaska Representative Bryce Edgmon changed his registration from Democratic to independent. Thanks to Steve Goodale for this news.
On February 11, Alaska Representative Bryce Edgmon changed his registration from Democratic to independent. Thanks to Steve Goodale for this news.
Small “i” independent as in unaffiliated, or Alaskan Independence Party? http://www.akip.org/
He did not join the Alaskan Independence Party. He has no party.
@JB, Small “u” undeclared. Alaska makes a distinction between undeclared and non-partisan.
Before 2015 R’s had a 26:14 majority, and 4 Native D’s caucused with the R’s so that the D’s didn’t even have an official caucus.
In 2017, it was 21R:17D:2I, but 3R agreed to caucus with the D’s in a “majority coalition’.Edgmon, the representative who disaffiatex was Speaker.
After the 2018 election, it was 23R:16D,1I, and only 2 of the switchers returned. But one race was razor thin (one vote margin) and then another R refused to voter for the speaker apparent – because he felt another R was not a reliable vote.
The legislature has spent the past month deadlocked 20:20 and unorganized.
The governor gave his budget proposal, and a couple of R’s agreed to vote for Edgmon for speaker, and the House would be organized on a bipartisan basis with even committee splits. Apparently a condition was that Edgmon would lead in a nonpartisan manner.
Incidentally it appears that the AIP has fallen below the 3% registration level to keep its party status.
AK – should still be a territory — like about 15 other SMALL pop States.