The Senate’s already large majority grew even bigger today. Senator Donny Olson joined the majority caucus.
The move by the Golovin Democrat means that sixteen of the twenty senators are in the majority. Olson says he’s honored to join the majority and will lend a strong voice for rural Alaskans.
He joins Senator Lyman Hoffman of Bethel as another Democrat in the Republican-led majority.
Senate Minority Leader Berta Gardner, an Anchorage Democrat, says her caucus members were disappointed. But she says they’re pleased the majority will benefit from a member with progressive values, who supports public education and Medicaid expansion.
Andrew Kitchenman is the state government and politics reporter for Alaska Public Media and KTOO in Juneau. Reach him at akitchenman@alaskapublic.org.
