Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox speaks during a press conference on narcotics interdiction efforts in Alaska on Feb. 12. (Bill Roth / ADN)
JUNEAU — Alaska lawmakers on Thursday voted 29-31 to reject Stephen Cox, Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s pick for attorney general.
It is the second time in state history that a cabinet-level appointee has been rejected by the Legislature.
In the weeks leading up to Thursday’s joint legislative session to consider Dunleavy’s appointees, Cox had faced questions from lawmakers over the high number of amicus briefs he has signed on to; his decision to create a new solicitor general position in the state Department of Law, and fill the position with an attorney who had no prior experience practicing law in Alaska; and his positions on controversial topics such as birthright citizenship, LGBTQ+ rights, voting access and abortion access.
“Stephen Cox is a nice person,” said Rep. Andrew Gray, an Anchorage Democrat. “I believe that Stephen Cox would make probably a good attorney general in a state, just not in our state.”
Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, right, speaks in opposition to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s attorney general appointee, Stephen Cox, as Senate President Gary Stevens, left, and House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, center, look on during a joint session of the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, May 14 in Juneau. (Mari Kanagy / ADN)
The vote did not split neatly along caucus lines. In the House, Anchorage Republican Rep. Mia Costello joined most majority members in voting to reject Cox. Rep. Chuck Kopp, another Anchorage Republican who serves in the majority, joined all GOP minority members in voting to support Cox. In the Senate, four members of the bipartisan majority joined all members of the Republican minority in supporting Cox.
Cox moved to Alaska in 2021 to serve as chief legal officer for Bristol Bay Industrial, a subsidiary of Bristol Bay Native Corp. He previously practiced law in Texas.
Sen. Löki Tobin, another Anchorage Democrat, said Cox has focused on “Lower 48 culture wars.”
“I want an attorney general who is focused on prosecuting crimes here in Alaska, instead of wasting our precious resources fighting Lower 48 issues,” Tobin said.
Even Republicans who voted in favor of Cox’s confirmation said they opposed some of his positions on topics related to voting access and birthright citizenship, among other issues. Rep. Jamie Allard, an Eagle River Republican, said she would vote for Cox because he is “a stand-up guy.”
The Alaska Legislature votes 29-31 to reject Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s appointee for state attorney general, Stephen Cox, on Thursday, May 14. (Mari Kanagy / ADN)
Alaska lawmakers in recent years have rejected the governor’s appointees to the medical board, a teacher oversight board, the board of education, a fisheries commission, and the University of Alaska Board of Regents. But lawmakers have never before voted down any of Dunleavy’s cabinet-level appointee.
The last and only previous time that lawmakers rejected a cabinet appointee was in 2009, when the Legislature voted not to approve former Gov. Sarah Palin’s pick for attorney general. At the time, legislators described Wayne Anthony Ross as “too controversial.”
The rejection of Cox comes as lawmakers and Dunleavy are in the midst of negotiations on their respective priorities, with less than a week remaining until the legislative session must end.
Dunleavy, who did not immediately comment on Cox’s rejection, will now have an opportunity to fill the attorney general post with an interim pick who will serve until a new governor is elected later this year.
The attorney general’s office has seen repeat turnover during Dunleavy’s eight-year tenure.
Dunleavy’s first pick, Kevin Clarkson, resigned in 2020 after a Daily News and ProPublica investigation that found he sent hundreds of “uncomfortable” messages to a state employee. His next pick for the job, Ed Sniffen, abruptly resigned in 2021 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Dunleavy then appointed Treg Taylor, who served as attorney general until last year, when he resigned to run for governor.
Cox had been serving as attorney general since August.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
