Government

Like Delaware, Wyoming, Vermont, and North Dakota, Alaska [1] has only one representative to the U.S. Congress, along with two senators. There are 20 state senators elected to four-year terms and 40 state representatives elected to two-year terms. They meet in the capitol in Juneau January–March. Local government is a mishmash of 16 first- and second-class boroughs, first- and second-class unincorporated villages, and tribal governments.

Alaskan politics start on the conservative end of the spectrum and head west from there to “I’ll pull my gun out to show you how right-wing I am.” The state has long been solidly Republican, but in 2008 corruption charges brought down some of the most powerful Republicans, all the way up to “Uncle Ted” Stevens, whose power and tenacity were legendary. He was replaced by moderate Democrat Mark Begich; the other U.S. Senator is Republican Lisa Murkowski. Representative Don Young remains in power, but it’s probably only a matter of time until his questionable past actions catch up with him.

As of 2009, Republicans have the governorship (Sean Parnell) and two of the three congressional seats, but the legislature was being run by a coalition of Democrats and Republicans. The big story, of course, is former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and her quixotic quest for the vice presidency in 2008. Stay tuned; Alaskans are suddenly in the political limelight, and you betcha they like it!