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Catherine A. Giessel
2023 - Present
2027
2
Catherine Giessel (Republican Party) (also known as Cathy) is a member of the Alaska State Senate, representing District E. She assumed office on January 17, 2023. Her current term ends on January 19, 2027.
Giessel became the majority leader of the Alaska Senate in January 2023. She previously served as senate president from January 2019 to January 2021.
Giessel was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. She earned a B.S. in nursing from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in nursing science from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. She worked as a nurse practitioner and healthcare consultant, and was the chair of Alaska Board of Nursing for five years.[1] Giessel has also served as a committee member, and vice chair of the Alaska Republican Party.[2][3]
Giessel was first elected to the Alaska Senate in 2010. After winning re-election three times, she ran for re-election for a fourth time in 2020 and lost to Roger Holland (R) in the Republican primary. In 2022, she beat Holland in a rematch and rejoined the chamber. The 2022 election was conducted using open top-four primaries and ranked-choice voting after the adoption of Alaska Ballot Measure 2 in November 2020. Giessel finished first in the primary, and led Holland 33.8%-33.1% after the first round of tabulation in the general election. She won a majority in the second round.[4][5]
After the 2022 general election, 17 of the senate's 20 senators, including all nine Democrats and eight of 11 Republicans, announced that they would form a bipartisan governing coalition. The coalition chose Giessel as majority leader and she began serving in that role in January 2023.[6]
Giessel said the coalition reflected the will of Alaskan voters and dynamics in the legislature. "This coalition that you see, 17 members, bipartisan, is actually an acknowledgement of what’s been going on for the last four years in the Alaska Senate," she said, later adding: "The prevailing message that I hear from other folks in our coalition that they heard from Alaskans was, ‘We’re tired of the fighting. We want you to get along and get something done."[7]
In January 2024, Giessel shared legislative priorities that included pension reform, electric grid modernization, increasing access to home care and mental health services, and establishing a new food stamp program.[8]
Biography
Catherine A. Giessel was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. Giessel earned a B.S. in nursing from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in nursing science from the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Her career experience includes working as a registered nurse and advanced nurse practitioner.[1]
Giessel volunteered in a variety of organizations, including but not limited to: the Council of State Governments, the Energy Producing State Coalition, the National Council of State Legislators, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, and the National Rifle Association (NRA).[1]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes yearly updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org
2023-2024
Giessel was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Community & Regional Affairs Committee
- Senate Health & Social Services Committee
- Senate Judiciary Committee
- Senate Resources Committee, Vice Chair
- Senate Rules Committee
2019-2020
Giessel was assigned to the following committees:
- Legislative Budget and Audit Committee
- Legislative Council Committee
- Senate Health & Social Services Committee
- Senate Resources Committee
- Senate Rules Committee, Vice chair
2017 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2017 legislative session, this legislator served on the following committees:
| Alaska committee assignments, 2017 |
|---|
| • Education |
| • Health & Social Services |
| • Resources, Chair |
| • State Affairs |
| • Legislative Budget and Audit |
2015 legislative session
At the beginning of the 2015 legislative session, Giessel served on the following committees:
| Alaska committee assignments, 2015 |
|---|
| • Education, Vice chair |
| • Health & Social Services, Vice chair |
| • Labor & Commerce, Vice chair |
| • Resources, Chair |
| • Special Committee on the Arctic, Chair |
| • Legislative Budget and Audit |
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Giessel served on the following committees:
| Alaska committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Community & Regional Affairs, Vice chair |
| • Resources, Chair |
| • State Affairs, Vice chair |
| • Administrative Regulation Review, Vice chair |
| • Legislative Budget and Audit |
| • Legislative Ethics |
2011-2012
In the 2011-2012 legislative session, Giessel served on these committees:
| Alaska committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Labor & Commerce |
| • State Affairs |
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2022
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District E
The ranked-choice voting election was won by Catherine Giessel in round 2 . The results of Round are displayed below. To see the results of other rounds, use the dropdown menu above to select a round and the table will update.
|
Total votes: 16,705 |
|||
 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Alaska State Senate District E
Catherine Giessel, Roselynn Cacy, and incumbent Roger Holland advanced from the primary for Alaska State Senate District E on August 16, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Catherine Giessel (R) | 35.6 | 4,441 |
| ✔ |  | Roselynn Cacy (D) | 33.7 | 4,195 |
| ✔ |  | Roger Holland (R) | 30.7 | 3,823 |
| Total votes: 12,459 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Mark Anthony Cox (R)
2020
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2020
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District N
Roger Holland defeated Carl Johnson, Carolyn Clift, and Lynette Hinz in the general election for Alaska State Senate District N on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Roger Holland (R) | 49.7 | 10,512 |
 | Carl Johnson (D) | 45.6 | 9,650 | |
 | Carolyn Clift (Independent) | 4.6 | 965 | |
| Lynette Hinz (D) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 40 | ||
| Total votes: 21,167 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District N
Roger Holland defeated incumbent Catherine Giessel in the Republican primary for Alaska State Senate District N on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Roger Holland | 64.2 | 3,687 |
| Catherine Giessel | 35.8 | 2,055 | |
| Total votes: 5,742 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary election
Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District N
Carl Johnson defeated Lynette Hinz in the Alaska Democratic and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District N on August 18, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Carl Johnson | 54.1 | 2,247 |
| Lynette Hinz | 45.9 | 1,907 | ||
| Total votes: 4,154 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2016
- See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2016
Elections for the Alaska State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 16, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.
Incumbent Catherine A. Giessel defeated Vince Beltrami in the Alaska State Senate District N general election.[9][10]
| Alaska State Senate, District N General Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Catherine A. Giessel Incumbent |
52.18% | 9,570 | |
| Independent | Vince Beltrami | 47.82% | 8,772 | |
| Total Votes | 18,342 | |||
| Source: Alaska Secretary of State | ||||
Incumbent Catherine A. Giessel ran unopposed in the Alaska State Senate District N Republican Primary.[11][12]
| Alaska State Senate, District N Republican Primary, 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | |
| Republican | Catherine A. Giessel Incumbent (unopposed) | |
2014
- See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2014
Elections for the Alaska State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 19, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was June 2, 2014. Harry T. Crawford, Jr. was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while incumbent Catherine A. "Cathy" Giessel was unopposed in the Republican primary. Giessel defeated Crawford in the general election.[13][14][15][16]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Catherine A. Giessel Incumbent |
54.9% | 9,657 | |
| Democratic | Harry T. Crawford, Jr. | 45.1% | 7,938 | |
| Total Votes | 17,595 | |||
2012
- See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2012
Giessel won re-election in the 2012 election for Alaska State Senate District 14 (N). She defeated Joe Arness in the August 28, 2012, Republican primary and defeated Ron Devon (I) in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[17][18][19]
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Catherine Giessel Incumbent |
59.1% | 10,405 | |
| Independent | Ron Devon | 40.9% | 7,202 | |
| Total Votes | 17,607 | |||
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|---|---|---|
|
Catherine Giessel Incumbent |
67.9% | 3,964 |
| Joe Arness | 32.1% | 1,878 |
| Total Votes | 5,842 | |
2010
- See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2010
Giessel defeated Jennifer B. Johnston and Mark W. Moronell in the August 24 primary. She then defeated Democrat Janet L. Reiser and independent candidate Philip Dziubinski in the November 2 general election.[20][21]
| Alaska State Senate, District P General Election (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Catherine A. Giessel (R)
|
9,255 | |||
| Janet L. Reiser (D) | 7,042 | |||
| Philip Dziubinski (I) | 2,072 | |||
| Alaska State Senate, District P Republican Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Catherine A. Giessel (R)
|
4,315 | |||
| Mark W. Moronell (R) | 2,147 | |||
| Jennifer B. Johnston (R) | 1,976 | |||
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Catherine Giessel did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2020
Catherine Giessel did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2016
Giessel's campaign website highlighted the following issues:
| “ |
Priorities
|
” |
| —Catherine A. Giessel[23] | ||
2014
Giessel's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[24]
Energy
- Excerpt: "I support the goal of an instate natural gas pipeline system, bringing gas from … the North Slope, the Interior, Cook Inlet ... to Alaskans."
Economy
- Excerpt: "I favor approaches that encourages innovation and fosters business diversity, the sparkplugs of a sustainable economic engine."
Resource Development
- Excerpt: "Our Constitution and laws provide careful oversight and balance between preserving our environment and using the resources to create jobs and viable communities. Resource development jobs sustain individual's and communities in both urban and rural Alaska."
Education
- Excerpt: "All options must continue to be available to parents, including traditional public schools, optional school programs, private schools and home school. Home school in Alaska must continue to be parent-driven."
Healthcare
- Excerpt: "Rules that force us to buy insurance plans that are bloated with government mandates are unfair and costly. In fact, requirements that we purchase health insurance are also unfair."
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Alaska scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 16 to May 15. |
2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 17 to May 17.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 21 to May 20.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 15, 2019, through May 14, 2019.
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2018
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2018, click [show]. |
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In 2018, the 31st Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 16 through May 13.
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2017
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2017, click [show]. |
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In 2017, the Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 17 through May 17. The legislature held a special session from May 18 to June 16, a second special session from June 16 to July 15, a one-day special session on July 27, and a fourth special session from October 23 to November 21.
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2016
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2016, click [show]. |
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In 2016, the Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 19 through May 18 (extended session). The Legislature held a special session from May 23, 2016, to June 19, 2016. The Legislature held a second special session from July 11 to July 18.
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2015
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2015, click [show]. |
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In 2015, the Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 20 through April 27 (Session extended). The first special session was held from April 28 to May 21. The second special session was held from May 21 to June 11. A third special session was held from October 24 to November 5.
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2014
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2014, click [show]. |
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In 2014, the 28th Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 21 to April 20.
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2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
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In 2013, the Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 15 to April 14. Ballotpedia staff did not find any state legislative scorecards published for this state in 2013. If you are aware of one, please contact editor@ballotpedia.org to let us know. |
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
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In 2012, the 27th Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 17 to April 15. It was in special session from April 15 to April 30.
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Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Giessel and her husband, Richard, have three children.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 The Alaska State Legislature, "Senate Cathy Giessel," accessed January 29, 2023
- ↑ Peninsula Clarion, "Session to begin with House in disarray," January 15, 2019
- ↑ FOXNews.com, "Alaska GOP Beset by Turmoil, Competition," March 14, 2008
- ↑ Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska Redistricting Board adopts revised voting district map," July 14, 2013
- ↑ Alaska Public Media, "Partisan hardliners likely won’t fare well under Alaska’s new election system. Here’s why.," October 28, 2022
- ↑ ‘’KTOO News,’’ “In new bipartisan Alaska Senate majority of 17, members vow compromise and consensus,” accessed February 7, 2024
- ↑ ‘’Alaska Beacon,’’ “Legislative leader touts consensus approach and outlines likely priorities for Alaska Senate,” January 6, 2023
- ↑ ‘’Senator Cathy Giessel Newsletter,’’ “New Session Goals, Current News, and lots more!” accessed May 14, 2024
- ↑ State of Alaska Division of Elections, "November 8, 2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed August 22, 2016
- ↑ Alaska Secretary of State, "General Election Official Results 2016," accessed December 2, 2016
- ↑ State of Alaska Division of Elections, "August 16, 2016 Primary Candidate List," accessed June 8, 2016
- ↑ State of Alaska Division of Elections, "2016 Primary Election results," accessed September 12, 2016
- ↑ Alaska Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed June 4, 2014
- ↑ Alaska Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed January 1, 2015
- ↑ Alaska Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed September 11, 2014
- ↑ Alaska Secretary of State, "Official General Election Results," accessed November 25, 2014
- ↑ Alaska Division of Elections, "2012 Primary Candidate List," accessed March 12, 2014
- ↑ Alaska Division of Elections, "Official 2012 Primary Results," accessed March 12, 2014
- ↑ Alaska Election Division, "Official 2012 General election results," accessed November 16, 2012
- ↑ Alaska Department of Elections, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed March 12, 2014
- ↑ Alaska Department of Elections, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed March 12, 2014
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Cathy Giessel, "Issues," accessed September 26, 2016
- ↑ cathygiessel.com, "Issues," accessed October 21, 2014
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 Alaska Business Report Card, "About," accessed November 5, 2019 Cite error: Invalid
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| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mike Shower (R) |
Alaska State Senate District E 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Alaska State Senate District N 2013-2021 |
Succeeded by Roger Holland (R) |
| Preceded by - |
Alaska State Senate District P 2011-2013 |
Succeeded by - |
