The leftist majority that now controls the Alaska Legislature marched in lock step during the May 14 confirmation vote that ultimately rejected the nomination of Alaska’s Acting Attorney General Stephen Cox. The contentious joint session of both the House and Senate was marked by what appeared to be coordinated character attacks and thinly veiled suggestions that the conservative-leaning Cox was racist, reckless and woefully unfit for office.
Democrats were joined by three Republicans in successfully denying Cox’s confirmation along a 31-29 vote. GOP Senator Gary Stevens joined the Democrat majority, as did Republican Representatives Louise Stutes and Mia Costello.
Last August, Gov. Mike Dunleavy appointed Cox to head up the Alaska Dept. of Law. He replaced Treg Taylor who resigned to run for governor.
Cox’s extensive experience includes serving in the first Trump Administration as a senior U.S. Department of Justice official, as a United States Attorney, and as a top lawyer in the private sector. He served as Senior Vice President, Chief Legal and Strategy Officer at Bristol Bay Industrial, which is an investment platform of Bristol Bay Native Corporation. There, he led the company’s legal and strategic initiatives on major utility, energy and resource projects. Earlier in his career, he was a principal attorney for Apache Corporation’s Alaska operations, focusing on new oil-and-gas ventures and coordinating regulatory efforts in the Cook Inlet region.
On May 14, however, Democrat lawmakers used the confirmation vote to unleash attacks on Cox’s moral integrity and legal judgement, focusing largely on the fact that Cox has supported a number of conservative court cases aimed at curtailing problematic mail-in ballots and birthright citizenship abuse, along with his support of cases defending religious liberty.
Openly gay Rep. Andrew Gray blasted Cox for supporting a Mat-Su School District policy that prohibits gender-confused males from accessing girl’s bathrooms.
Sen. Loki Tobin claimed that the “most egregious” offense was Cox’s decision to sign onto an amicus brief in a case that challenged birthright citizenship. The hard leftist Tobin suggested that Cox’s decision was akin to joining a racist movement in America.
Sen. Forrest Dunbar echoed this sentiment, suggesting Cox was unethical and unqualified for the attorney general spot.
Those who know Cox, however, point to his strong Catholic faith and pro-life, family and freedom convictions. He is also a founding board member for the new Hillsdale-modeled classical Christian school in South Anchorage.
Despite the confirmation denial, Cox isn’t going far.
Within hours of Cox being narrowly rejected by the Legislature, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced that he was appointing Cox as his new Counsel to the Governor.
A notice from Dunleavy’s office noted that despite the Legislature’s vote denying Cox the AG post, the governor trusts his “extensive legal and public policy experience and proven record of defending Alaska’s interests both at home and on the national level.”
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
Cox’s new role will be to advise Dunleavy on a wide range of legal, regulatory, and constitutional matters affecting the State of Alaska.
“Stephen Cox has a strong understanding of Alaska law and the challenges facing our state,” said Governor Dunleavy. “His experience, professionalism, and commitment to public service make him a valuable asset as Counsel to the Governor. I look forward to working with Stephen as we continue advancing policies that strengthen Alaska’s economy, uphold the rule of law, and serve the people of our state.”
As Counsel to the Governor, Cox will continue to work closely with the Department of Law and other executive branch departments to provide counsel on policy initiatives, legislation, and executive actions.
“I am honored to serve Governor Dunleavy and the people of Alaska in this new role,” Stephen Cox stated. “I look forward to continue supporting the administration’s efforts to promote responsible resource development, governance and opportunities for Alaskans across the state.”
20 Comments
The new role sure sounds a lot like the old “acting” role that Cox was just rejected for by the Juneau legislators. Well, Cox and the “Solicitor General” have until the first Monday in December* to look for a job in the private sector while working for current Governor. *Under the Alaska Constitution, the newly elected governor and lieutenant governor are sworn into office at noon on the first Monday in December following their election.
Who was behind the coup? Whoever it was convinced just enough “conservatives” to prevent the most qualified candidate we’ve had in decades from being confirmed. Who was behind it and what were their motives? Surely, the three who broke ranks to vote no didn’t come to their decision without lobbying or influence from someone.
I’ll wait for Paul Harvey to come along with “the rest of the story. . .”
Meanwhile, Republicans continue apace their remarkable failures to do any good -ANYthing worth doing- while in office. I’m not sure whether to say “they” (Republicans) or “we” (conservatives) are a bunch of idiots who’ve become
so accustomed to shooting ourselves in the foot that we’ve taken to shooting ourselves in the face. Epic failure.
I agree with you, but I also think that it has become acceptable, in today’s politics, for candidates to lie in order to get elected to office. It’s a moral shame that it’s legal for anyone, out side a candidate’s district to donate to their campaign. Our election system is definitely corrupt.
We desperately need to rid ourselves of RCV so we can have more straight forward elections to get rid of some of the extreme, deluded, amoral leftists. The darkness in Juneau is a fetid cloud.
Yes, rid ourselves of this cheating system RCV. I’ve been saying this for a while now.
Secretly it was probably because he worked for Trump.
All of these reasons that were being said.
1 Mail in voting, equals cheating. 2 birthright citizenship, if your illegal go back to where you came from. Come in the right way and then we will have open arms for you. 3 religious liberty, we all have the right to praise God or not. 4 Andrew Gray, you’re a very Sick man or what ever you call yourself. Boys don’t belong in the girls bathrooms. 5 Forrest Dunbar, is just a loser, He’s unethical and unqualified for being in Juneau representing Alaskans.
We need to primary every GOP who voted against the confirmation.
except many of the rinos that ally with the DNC are running unopposed
This is typical of the Alaska GOP and has been that way for 40 years. Nothing but a bunch of spineless liberals weakly identifying as ‘conservative’.
Why did Mia Costello flip? That one caught me off guard!
In the immortal words of Woody from Toy Story, “Someone poisoned the waterhole!”
same old department of law
need someone who will fallow the law
grand jury investigation anybody
glad his nomination failed
The March/April 2026 of Imprimis explained why we should not have birthright citizenship. This is a historical essay ARE WE SUBJECTS or CITIZENS? BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP AND THE CONSTITUTION, by Edward J. Erier. Very informative! Remember the NEA/Democrats represent the “death culture, mutilation of children, opposed to parents’ rights, in favor of ABORTION and other Marxist/Leftist causes. These government Marxist have been activated through the universities. Pray to bind the spirits of death, destroyer, confusion, chaos and other dark forces that are in our land. Loose the “fruit of the Spirit” in Alaska and America. Note: Billionaire Jeff Yass is interested in school choice and has invested a large amount of money to get rid of RCV in Alaska.
Any pick of Dunleavy’s needs to go! Any one of the attorneys he has had will lie and manipulate and not take the people of Alaska into consideration first. They are all nice people but Crime Boss Dunleavy has a bad history of hiring liars before those who tell the truth. Cox needs to go and those who were attorney generals under Crime Boss Dunleavy need to be fired from the jobs they have in his Administration. Shame on Treg !! Running for Governor after working for the Crime Boss Dunleavy!
“birthright citizenship abuse,”
Okay, will someone please explain how a newborn baby is abusing anything. Mmm, maybe the real abusers are those trying to deport babies and the delete the14th amendment.
It’s actually a brilliant phrase, meant to encapsulate the all-too-common practice of non-citizens coming into the U.S. illegally with the intention of giving birth in the U.S. for the purposes of obtaining citizenship for baby at birth. But …I’m guessing you already know this.
The SOLE purpose of obtaining citizenship at birth. *sigh*
Gary Stephens, Louise Stutes and Mia Costello are bad actors who claim to be Republicans because they rode in on President Trump’s coattails to win, then switched to join the Democrats. Most if not all of the Democrats advance the death cult, transgenderism, abortion and other anti-family anti-God positions. , They hate homeschooing and families, God and Church. Our governor appointed a good conservative attorney general but has been undermined by dishonest actors, people like Murkowski who unfortunately provides a role model of rebellion and disrespect to our legislators and against good leadership. We are thankful for President Trump’s leadership. We are MAGA Patriots who want to restore the US Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and the Ten Commandments. Our criminal code is based on the Ten Commandments. We are a Christian nation and have always been a Christian nation. It is a lie that America was founded on slavery. By reading Thoms Sowell, a black economist, you can find out the truth. His essay is “Something you will never read in a public school.” Find the Truth for yourselves. Do your own research and pray for our country every day..
Thanks to the Republicans who came to their senses and voted with the Democrats. MAGAs have no business governing. Trump is sinking the US into oblivion.
Jon, when you live to hate, you hate to live.
1. nobody’s perfect
2. the auto- pen years failed miserably
3. Trump will succeed again in spite of his flaws
4. life’s tough, get used to it
Could it be possible these legislatures suffer from TDS, Cox did serve in the Trump administration.