
“I think Alaskans sometimes forget how unique it is in our country to have bipartisan coalitions in the Legislature, and I am incredibly proud that we are once again picking up that mantle of bipartisanship.” - Calvin Schrage, Alaska House Speaker-elect.

Calvin Schrage, I-Anchorage, waves a sign on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026 in Midtown Anchorage. (Photo by Loren Holmes/Alaska Beacon)
By Corinne Smith
One day after the Alaska Senate’s bipartisan coalition announced key leadership positions, the incoming majority coalition in the Alaska House announced its leadership including that Anchorage independent Calvin Schrage will be the new House speaker.

Seabirds rest on a sandbar on in Safety Sound east of Nome on Sept. 30, 2020. A Nevada-based company called IPOP LLC is seeking to conduct a dredging operation to mine for gold in an area of Safety Sound called Bonanza Channel, but there is widespread opposition in the Nome area to the project. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
By Yereth Rosen
Federal regulators acted improperly when they granted a permit in 2024 for a controversial gold mining project near Nome, a federal judge has ruled.

Supporters of Rep.-elect Zach Dembo, a Kentucky Democrat who flipped a Republican seat, cheer during Dembo’s victory speech in Lexington on Nov. 3, 2026. (Photo by Brian Simms for Kentucky Lantern)
By Ashley Murray and Shauneen Miranda, States Newsroom
As the monumental midterm victories set in, Democrats began to talk strategy on how to deliver what voters want: lower prices, attainable health care and an end to a stagnant and expensive conflict in the Middle East.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Southeast Alaska port development named for Frank Murkowski | Larry Persily, Wrangell Sentinel
Alaskans approve largely meaningless noncitizen voting ballot measure | James Brooks and Claire Stremple
Alaska Democrats flip at least two Republican state House seats and grow coalition control | James Brooks
Thanks for reading The Morning Light. Did you know our weekend digest is also free? Sign up here. And if you enjoyed today’s edition, please forward to a friend. Increasing our readership helps us cover more news.