Welcome to The Midnight Sun’s so accurate we don’t even know what a margin of error is, totally not a popularity contest, definitive 2020 ranking of Alaska’s legislators. We asked you, Dear Reader, to help fill out these rankings, rating legislators on ethics, intelligence and effectiveness so if you disagree with them you have no one to blame but yourselves.
Once again, it looks like you guys prefer legislators from caucuses that don’t contain Hitler apologists with the highest-rated House Minority Republican being Rep. Dave Talerico, who’ll be retiring this year after coming one Rep. David Eastman short of House Speaker, appearing at spot #34 in the overall rankings.
And speaking of Eastman, a year of antics that included his temporary (right?) expulsion from the House Minority Republican caucus was not enough for him to secure his third finish as The Bad of the Legislature. Perhaps that’s because of his “Look who’s laughing now” donning of a face mask well before it became cool but we can assure you that we’re all still laughing.
No, the new Lee Van Cleef of Juneau is none other than Eagle River Republican Sen. Lora Reinbold, who took legislative theatrics to a whole new level with some peak “Let me speak to the governor” energy in the final days of the session. Reinbold also garnered the strongest response of all legislators with only three of the 98 crowd-sourced rankers skipping her ranking.
As for the Who-est of legislators, it turns out that showing up late and hardly having a moment before a pandemic sends everyone home early is a recipe for not getting noticed. As a quarter of respondents had nothing to say about stogie-toting Revak-replacement Rep. Mel Gillis.
Still at the top is House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, who cobbled together his second term as House Speaker and made still-surprising team with Senate President Cathy Giessel.
Anyways, onto the rankings! And if you just want everyone in one simple list, head to the bottom of this post.
Oh, as for the nicknames. Solid 3/10.
The Good
Rep. Bryce Edgmon
U-Dillingham
Overall rating: 3.98
Intelligence: 4
Ethics: 3.8
Effectiveness: 4.2
Nicknames: “The Headmaster,” “Eastman’s Nemesis,” “The Moderate Moderator,” “Daddy B”
Rep. Ivy Spohnholz
D-Anchorage
Overall rating: 3.93
Intelligence: 4.2
Ethics: 3.9
Effectiveness: 3.7
Nicknames: “The Wave,” “Governor”
Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins
D-Sitka
Overall rating: 3.8
Intelligence: 4.2
Ethics: 3.8
Effectiveness: 3.4
Nicknames: “The Mudroom Philosopher,” “The Myth,” “Benjamin Button”
Sen. Bert Stedman
R-Sitka
Overall rating: 3.8
Intelligence: 3.9
Ethics: 3.5
Effectiveness: 4
Nicknames: “Bert Locker,” “The General,” “Rich Uncle Pennybags,”
Sen. Jesse Kiehl
D-Juneau
Overall rating: 3.75
Intelligence: 4.1
Ethics: 4
Effectiveness: 3.2
Nicknames: “Everyone’s Favorite Staffer,” “The Real Deal,” “Kiehl Bill,” “Juneau Jesse”
Rep. Matt Claman
D-Anchorage
Overall rating: 3.64
Intelligence: 4
Ethics: 3.7
Effectiveness: 3.3
Nicknames: “The Hammer,” “Mr. Studious,” “Surprise.”
Sen. Cathy Giessel
R-Anchorage
Overall rating: 3.64
Intelligence: 3.8
Ethics: 3.4
Effectiveness: 3.8
Nicknames: “Diesel,” “Icy Eyes,” “The Presider”
Rep. Andy Josephson
D-Anchorage
Overall rating: 3.61
Intelligence: 4
Ethics: 3.8
Effectiveness: 3.1
Nicknames: “Uncle Andy,” “Dandy,” “The Great Debater”
Sen. Natasha von Imhof
R-Anchorage
Overall rating: 3.54
Intelligence: 4
Ethics: 3.1
Effectiveness: 3.5
Nicknames: “The Sigh,” “Governor,” “The Baroness,” “Can’t Hassel the (im)Hof”
Sen. Tom Begich
D-Anchorage
Overall rating: 3.53
Intelligence: 3.7
Ethics: 3.5
Effectiveness: 3.3
Nicknames: “The Pony Tail Man,” “Big Tom”
Sen. Bill Wielechowski
D-Anchorage
Overall rating: 3.5
Intelligence: 3.9
Ethics: 3.6
Effectiveness: 3
Nicknames: “Will-he-ever-pass-a-Bill?” “Dreamin’ of the Third Floor,” “Wiel E. Coychowski”
Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky
D-Bethel
Overall rating: 3.47
Intelligence: 3.6
Ethics: 3.6
Effectiveness: 3.2
Nicknames: “The Incredible Zulk”
The Bad
Sen. Lora Reinbold
R-Eagle River
Overall rating: 1.61
Intelligence: 1.5
Ethics: 1.9
Effectiveness: 1.5
Nicknames: “Neinbold,” “Eastman of the Senate,” “Ridiculous,” “The Principal”
Rep. David Eastman
R-Wasilla
Overall rating: 1.68
Intelligence: 2.2
Ethics: 1.7
Effectiveness: 1.2
Nicknames: “Facemask Dave,” “Look at Me!” “The Valley Victim,” “Table for One”
Rep. Ben Carpenter
R-Nikiski
Overall rating: 1.71
Intelligence: 1.8
Ethics: 1.8
Effectiveness: 1.5
Nicknames: “Eastman Jr.” “Dumb Dumb,” “PR Wiz Kid,” “Low Rent Todd Palin”
Rep. Sarah Vance
R-Homer
Overall rating: 1.76
Intelligence: 1.8
Ethics: 2
Effectiveness: 1.6
Nicknames: “Dear God, I miss Paul Seaton,” “Representative”
Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux
R-Anchorage
Overall rating: 2.03
Intelligence: 2.7
Ethics: 1.4
Effectiveness: 2
Nicknames: “Deep Douxdoux,” “PAC-woman”
Sen. Mike Shower
R-Wasilla
Overall rating: 2.11
Intelligence: 2.2
Ethics: 2.4
Effectiveness: 1.8
Nicknames: “Dodger,” “Freedom’s Dozer,” “Shower? I hardly know ‘er!”
Rep. Sharon Jackson
R-Eagle River
Overall rating: 2.19
Intelligence: 2.1
Ethics: 2.6
Effectiveness: 1.9
Nicknames: “Action Jackson”
Rep. Mark Neuman
R-Big Lake
Overall rating: 2.21
Intelligence: 2.1
Ethics: 2.5
Effectiveness: 2
Nicknames: “#thedean,” “Prayers and Plans”
Rep. Lance Pruitt
R-Anchorage
Overall rating: 2.22
Intelligence: 2.6
Ethics: 2
Effectiveness: 2.1
Nicknames: “Minority Rule,” “Lance-a-Little,” “Middle-aged Wonder”
Sen. Shelley Hughes
R-Palmer
Overall rating: 2.23
Intelligence: 2.2
Ethics: 2.5
Effectiveness: 2
Nicknames: “Traffic Jam,” “At least I’m not Lora Reinbold”
Rep. George Rauscher
R-Palmer
Overall rating: 2.31
Intelligence: 2.2
Ethics: 2.6
Effectiveness: 2.1
Nicknames: “Resting George Face”
Sen. David Wilson
R-Wasilla
Overall rating: 2.32
Intelligence: 2.5
Ethics: 2.4
Effectiveness: 2.1
Nicknames: “The BeeMan”
And, wait, Who?
Rep. Mel Gillis
R-Anchorage
Overall rating: 2.62
Intelligence: 2.7
Ethics: 2.8
Effectiveness: 2.3
Rep. John Lincoln
D-Kotzebue
Overall rating: 3.24
Intelligence: 3.3
Ethics: 3.3
Effectiveness: 3
Rep. Sara Hannan
D-Juneau
Overall rating: 3.14
Intelligence: 3.3
Ethics: 3.3
Effectiveness: 2.8
Rep. Chuck Kopp
R-Anchorage
Overall rating: 3.39
Intelligence: 3.5
Ethics: 3.3
Effectiveness: 3.4
The complete sortable rankings
| Legislator | District | Party | Overall | Intelligence | Ethics | Effectiveness | Who? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rep. Bart LeBon | 01-Fairbanks | R | 3.02 | 3.2 | 3.06 | 2.81 | 18 |
| Rep. Steve Thompson | 02-Fairbanks | R | 3.15 | 3.24 | 2.99 | 3.22 | 19 |
| Rep. Mike Prax | 03-North Pole | R | 2.43 | 2.49 | 2.65 | 2.15 | 20 |
| Rep. Grier Hopkins | 04-Fairbanks | D | 3.26 | 3.35 | 3.41 | 3.01 | 16 |
| Rep. Adam Wool | 05-Fairbanks | D | 2.96 | 3.21 | 2.73 | 2.93 | 15 |
| Rep. Dave Talerico | 06-Healy | R | 3 | 2.95 | 3.35 | 2.69 | 18 |
| Rep. Colleen Sullivan-Leonard | 07-Wasilla | R | 2.68 | 2.74 | 2.88 | 2.42 | 17 |
| Rep. Mark Neuman | 08-Big Lake | R | 2.21 | 2.13 | 2.48 | 2.01 | 13 |
| Rep. George Rauscher | 09-Palmer | R | 2.31 | 2.23 | 2.6 | 2.09 | 18 |
| Rep. David Eastman | 10-Wasilla | R | 1.68 | 2.16 | 1.7 | 1.18 | 8 |
| Rep. DeLena Johnson | 11-Palmer | R | 2.61 | 2.62 | 2.85 | 2.36 | 14 |
| Rep. Cathy Tilton | 12-Wasilla | R | 2.55 | 2.54 | 2.76 | 2.35 | 18 |
| Rep. Kelly Merrick | 14-Eagle River | R | 2.68 | 2.89 | 2.76 | 2.39 | 16 |
| Rep. Sharon Jackson | 13-Eagle River | R | 2.19 | 2.11 | 2.55 | 1.91 | 18 |
| Rep. Gabrielle LeDoux | 15-Anchorage | R | 2.03 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 1.98 | 14 |
| Rep. Ivy Spohnholz | 16-Anchorage | D | 3.93 | 4.21 | 3.85 | 3.72 | 13 |
| Rep. Andy Josephson | 17-Anchorage | D | 3.61 | 3.95 | 3.84 | 3.05 | 13 |
| Rep. Harriet Drummond | 18-Anchorage | D | 3.23 | 3.35 | 3.56 | 2.77 | 16 |
| Rep. Geran Tarr | 19-Anchorage | D | 3.11 | 3.32 | 3.14 | 2.88 | 14 |
| Rep. Zack Fields | 20-Anchorage | D | 3.45 | 3.66 | 3.39 | 3.31 | 15 |
| Rep. Matt Claman | 21-Anchorage | D | 3.64 | 3.96 | 3.7 | 3.26 | 18 |
| Rep. Sara Rasmussen | 22-Anchorage | R | 2.4 | 2.43 | 2.54 | 2.23 | 18 |
| Rep. Chris Tuck | 23-Anchorage | D | 2.88 | 2.92 | 2.76 | 2.95 | 18 |
| Rep. Chuck Kopp | 24-Anchorage | R | 3.39 | 3.45 | 3.31 | 3.4 | 21 |
| Rep. Mel Gillis | 25-Anchorage | R | 2.62 | 2.71 | 2.81 | 2.34 | 25 |
| Rep. Laddie Shaw | 26-Anchorage | R | 2.74 | 2.85 | 3 | 2.38 | 20 |
| Rep. Lance Pruitt | 27-Anchorage | R | 2.22 | 2.6 | 1.99 | 2.06 | 15 |
| Rep. Jennifer Johnston | 28-Anchorage | R | 3.22 | 3.47 | 2.98 | 3.2 | 18 |
| Rep. Ben Carpenter | 29-Nikiski | R | 1.71 | 1.82 | 1.79 | 1.51 | 16 |
| Rep. Gary Knopp | 30-Soldotna | R | 3.06 | 2.9 | 3.21 | 3.06 | 17 |
| Rep. Sarah Vance | 31-Homer | R | 1.76 | 1.76 | 1.96 | 1.57 | 14 |
| Rep. Louise Stutes | 32-Kodiak | R | 2.94 | 3.03 | 2.77 | 3.01 | 19 |
| Rep. Sara Hannan | 33-Juneau | D | 3.14 | 3.32 | 3.27 | 2.84 | 21 |
| Rep. Andi Story | 34-Juneau | D | 3.13 | 3.16 | 3.4 | 2.84 | 20 |
| Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins | 35-Sitka | D | 3.8 | 4.21 | 3.8 | 3.39 | 16 |
| Rep. Dan Ortiz | 36-Ketchikan | I | 3.34 | 3.4 | 3.47 | 3.15 | 20 |
| Rep. Bryce Edgmon | 37-Dillingham | U | 3.98 | 3.98 | 3.82 | 4.15 | 15 |
| Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky | 38-Bethel | D | 3.47 | 3.57 | 3.6 | 3.24 | 21 |
| Rep. Neal Foster | 39-Nome | D | 3.39 | 3.45 | 3.18 | 3.53 | 21 |
| Rep. John Lincoln | 40-Kotzebue | D | 3.24 | 3.33 | 3.34 | 3.04 | 24 |
| Sen. Scott Kawasaki | A-Fairbanks | D | 3.39 | 3.64 | 3.36 | 3.18 | 7 |
| Sen. John Coghill | B-North Pole | R | 3.43 | 3.23 | 3.61 | 3.45 | 5 |
| Sen. Click Bishop | C-Fairbanks | R | 3.47 | 3.33 | 3.61 | 3.48 | 10 |
| Sen. David Wilson | D-Wasilla | R | 2.32 | 2.46 | 2.39 | 2.12 | 8 |
| Sen. Mike Shower | E-Wasilla | R | 2.11 | 2.22 | 2.35 | 1.76 | 5 |
| Sen. Shelley Hughes | F-Palmer | R | 2.23 | 2.18 | 2.49 | 2.02 | 6 |
| Sen. Lora Reinbold | G-Eagle River | R | 1.61 | 1.51 | 1.88 | 1.45 | 3 |
| Sen. Bill Wielechowski | H-Anchorage | D | 3.5 | 3.93 | 3.56 | 3.02 | 4 |
| Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson | I-Anchorage | D | 3.39 | 3.4 | 3.76 | 3.01 | 8 |
| Sen. Tom Begich | J-Anchorage | D | 3.53 | 3.74 | 3.53 | 3.33 | 4 |
| Sen. Mia Costello | K-Anchorage | R | 2.56 | 2.77 | 2.54 | 2.36 | 8 |
| Sen. Natasha von Imhof | L-Anchorage | R | 3.54 | 3.98 | 3.09 | 3.54 | 6 |
| Sen. Josh Revak | M-Anchorage | R | 2.57 | 2.66 | 2.62 | 2.44 | 9 |
| Sen. Cathy Giessel | N-Anchorage | R | 3.64 | 3.78 | 3.35 | 3.8 | 3 |
| Sen. Peter Micciche | O-Soldotna | R | 2.8 | 3.18 | 2.41 | 2.81 | 6 |
| Sen. Gary Stevens | P-Kodiak | R | 3.46 | 3.69 | 3.55 | 3.13 | 9 |
| Sen. Jesse Kiehl | Q-Juneau | D | 3.75 | 4.05 | 4.04 | 3.16 | 9 |
| Sen. Bert Stedman | R-Sitka | R | 3.8 | 3.93 | 3.48 | 3.99 | 8 |
| Sen. Lyman Hoffman | S-Bethel | D | 3.46 | 3.69 | 2.83 | 3.86 | 9 |
| Sen. Donny Olson | T-Golovin | D | 3.07 | 3.51 | 2.68 | 3.02 | 8 |
Democrats good
Republicans bad
Let’s through in some numbers, a decimal point, and call it scientific.