Mostly Democratic Majority Forms in Alaska House

Published at: Feb 17 2021 - 09:13 / Updated at: Feb 17 2021 - 09:13

The Alaska House reached a majority caucus mostly made of Democrats on Monday when Republican Rep. Kelly Merrick of Eagle River joined the coalition, giving it 21 members, according to APM.

Merrick voted for Kodiak Republican Rep. Louise Stutes to become speaker on Thursday, but it wasn’t until Monday that she announced she’d joined the caucus of the 20 other legislators who voted for Stutes.

When Stutes was elected Alaska House speaker on Thursday, it broke a 24-day deadlock. Stutes, who is from Kodiak, said she wants people from different parties to shape the majority.