Kiehl named finance committee co-chair, Giessel will be Senate president in new majority coalition

Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, a finance co-chair since 2019 and a primary figure in recent budget negotiations, loses spot; newcomers Stutes and Edgmon get leadership posts

State Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, standing, discusses an amendment to a bill reviving pensions for public employees during a Senate floor session April 29, 2026. At right, Senate Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, listens. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

The Alaska State Senate will again have a bipartisan majority coalition when a new legislative session begins in January, with current Majority Leader Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, getting promoted to Senate president, according to a press release issued by the coalition Wednesday.

Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, was named one of the two co-chairs of the Senate Finance Committee along with Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, who served as House Speaker during the past session and was elected to the Senate in Tuesday’s election. Another House member newly elected to the Senate, Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, was named majority leader.

The leadership positions were determined during a meeting in Anchorage the day after the general election. Democrats and independents expected to be part of a majority coalition in that chamber are also meeting Wednesday, although no leadership announcements were made of as early evening.

The current Senate majority consists of 14 of 20 members — nine Democrats and five Republicans — and it’s not yet certain what the size of the new majority will be since some elections are pending.

Giessel, a 14-year member of the Senate, has been a bipartisan coalition member since it was formed after the 2022 election by current Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, who is retiring.

Kiehl, a member of the Senate since 2019 and finance committee since 2023, said in an interview Wednesday he is optimistic about co-chairing the committee under a new governor — likely Democrat Jonathan Kreiss, who has a solid lead over three Republican challengers. Budget and other negotiations with departing Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy were often contentious during his eight years in office.

"In this new role I think it's going to be a very productive Legislature with this coalition and with the incoming governor," Kiehl said.

A notable omission from the new Senate majority’s leadership posts is Bert Stedman, R-Sitka, a co-chair of the finance committee since 2019 and a lead player in budget negotiations in recent years. He took some positions at odds with most of the current majority causes during the past year, including helping ensure the defeat of a bipartisan election reform bill by declining to support an override of a veto by Gov. Mike Dunleavy.

Kiehl declined to state if such actions are why Stedman was excluded from a leadership role.

"People sometimes move around and so I don't think there's a tale to tell," Kiehl said.

Attempts to reach Stedman for comment Wednesday were not successful.

The coalition also named only two finance co-chairs, instead of the three that have previously existed. Kiehl said it is possible a change to the coalition’s leadership structure and its membership could still occur at some point.

"The doors are open and we continue to work with other senators who want to work across the aisle," he said.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.