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Jesse Kiehl
2023 - Present
2029
2
Jesse Kiehl (Democratic Party) is a member of the Alaska State Senate, representing District B. He assumed office on January 17, 2023. His current term ends on January 16, 2029.
Kiehl (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Alaska State Senate to represent District B. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Jesse Kiehl was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and, as of 2018, lived in Juneau, Alaska. Kiehl graduated from Steller Secondary School in 1994. He earned a bachelor's degree in politics and theater from Whitman College in 1998. Kiehl has served on the Governor’s Council on Human Trafficking & Sex Trafficking and the board of the Alaska Municipal League.[1][2]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Kiehl was assigned to the following committees:
- Senate Education Committee
- Senate Finance Committee
- Senate Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair
- Senate Transportation Committee
- Legislative Council Committee
- Victims Advocate Selection Committee
2021-2022
Kiehl was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Kiehl was assigned to the following committees:
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
2024
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District B
The ranked-choice voting election was won by Jesse Kiehl in round 1 .
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Total votes: 16,069 |
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 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Alaska State Senate District B
Incumbent Jesse Kiehl advanced from the primary for Alaska State Senate District B on August 20, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jesse Kiehl (D) | 100.0 | 6,256 |
| Total votes: 6,256 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Kiehl in this election.
2022
See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2022
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District B
The ranked-choice voting election was won by Jesse Kiehl in round 1 .
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Total votes: 13,278 |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for Alaska State Senate District B
Incumbent Jesse Kiehl advanced from the primary for Alaska State Senate District B on August 16, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jesse Kiehl (D) | 100.0 | 8,921 |
| Total votes: 8,921 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
2018
- See also: Alaska State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Alaska State Senate District Q
Jesse Kiehl defeated Don Etheridge in the general election for Alaska State Senate District Q on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jesse Kiehl (D) | 61.9 | 11,121 |
| Don Etheridge (Independent) | 37.9 | 6,803 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 49 | ||
| Total votes: 17,973 | |||
| = 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, Libertarian, and Independence parties primary election
Alaska Democratic, Libertarian, and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District Q
Jesse Kiehl advanced from the Alaska Democratic, Libertarian, and Independence parties primary for Alaska State Senate District Q on August 21, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jesse Kiehl | 100.0 | 4,740 |
| Total votes: 4,740 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jesse Kiehl did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Jesse Kiehl did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Jesse Kiehl participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on September 27, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Jesse Kiehl's responses follow below.[3]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | Our top priority has to be a stable, sustainable state budget. We need to reduce Alaska’s long-term structural deficit so we’re not draining our savings can invest in the essential services and infrastructure that allow our private sector to grow.
One of those essentials is education. Alaska’s school funding has not even kept up with inflation. We need to invest in our schools and in our children. We also need to prioritize public safety. We’ve implemented criminal justice reforms backward. While there has been progress recently, it’s time to invest in law enforcement and our treatment and rehabilitation services to address both crime and the addictions driving it.[4][5] |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | As legislative staff, I’ve worked extensively on developing legislation to return the option of a defined benefit pension to teachers, Troopers, and other public servants. The chance to choose a pension can save the state money in the short term, get more bang for the buck in the long term, and reduce the tremendous (and tremendously expensive) turnover in our highest-demand job classes.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[5]
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” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Jesse Kiehl answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?
| “ | In government? I admire both Amy Klobuchar and Jon Tester. I believe in working across party lines, and few legislators do that as well as Klobuchar. Plus, she has that ‘Minnesota nice’ thing that helps make friends for Southeast Alaska. Jon Tester also has a great track record of representing his own constituents first—before he considers his party’s position. Tester knows we can responsibly develop natural resources—not by removing all the rules that protect clean air and water, but by really doing it right for both jobs and the environment.[5] | ” |
| “ | I would recommend Lorraine Hansberry's play “Les Blancs,” Michel Foucault's Discipline and Punish, and Martin Buber's I and Thou.[5] | ” |
| “ | I believe strongly in the values of honesty, transparency, and hard work. You also have to be willing to collaborate with people you disagree with on the issues.[5] | ” |
| “ | A state senator representing Southeast has to advocate for the Alaska Marine Highway System, which is vital to our region's economy and communities. We also need to protect the capital in Juneau.
All legislators need to diligently research and understand proposed legislation, and to advocate for bills that make Alaska a better place. It is, of course, incredibly important for legislators to help constituents to navigate state government and work in the best interests of everyone in our communities.[5] |
” |
| “ | We need to build a bright future for Southeast Alaska, so our children can have the same opportunities I did. We need to stabilize the state budget so the private sector has a stable environment for growth. We need to invest in renewable, sustainable energy sources so our state has the power to prosper.[5] | ” |
| “ | My first job as a young teenager was picking fish on gillnetter in Bristol Bay. I was on the crew for three summers.[5] | ” |
| “ | Chanukah has to be my favorite holiday—it’s a wonderful celebration of faith and perseverance, spent with family. I have so many warm memories of celebrating with my parents and my brother and sister. Those have become the source of traditions and memories with our own children through the years. (I also really like fried food—a Chanukah tradition!)[5] | ” |
| “ | I don’t have just one. But among my favorites is John Gierach’s “Standing In A River Waving A Stick.” It’s beautifully written, funny, and about spending time outdoors.[5] | ” |
| “ | I have an heirloom rifle that my father gave me, which he in turn got from his uncle. I learned to hunt with him, carrying that rifle, and it holds both family history and many memories.[5] | ” |
| “ | I told the story here:
https://mudrooms.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/MR1015JesseKie_1.mp3[5] |
” |
| “ | My work on the Juneau Assembly has connected me to communities around the region and throughout the state. This background has given me the tools to collaborate with Alaskans from big cities to regional hubs and rural villages. Those tools and connections are essential to support Southeast, and to make our state better.[5] | ” |
| “ | 1. Alaska needs a fiscally responsible budget that is sustainable even as the price of oil fluctuates—one that can provide the essential services and infrastructure to support our state and our economy.
2. We need to address the ongoing effects of climate change on our communities and our wild fish and game. 3. Developing an economically viable gas line remains a great challenge, but a huge opportunity. 4. Clean, renewable energy for both cities and villages would sustain all Alaska communities and help us prosper for the long-term.[5] |
” |
| “ | If legislators don’t build personal relationships, the focus too often shifts to which team is winning or losing. That’s not good for the state. With a solid foundation as colleagues, we can have open, robust discussion about tough issues and still be friends. With solid relationships, you can stand on your principles, have an open dialogue, and work together to find real solutions.[5] | ” |
| “ | While the ‘98 constitutional amendment was written to appear non-partisan, it ultimately lodged the most control in the majority party. Any time one party gets control, politicians are choosing their voters when it ought to be the other way around. We need to get partisanship out of it, and have a truly unbiased, non-partisan board determine redistricting.[5] | ” |
| “ | All legislators should strive to be leaders. Representing your community in the legislature carries the duty to step up and help move Alaska forward.[5] | ” |
| “ | Alaska is fortunate to have had many legislators who showed the best qualities of leadership. I admire Bill Egan’s vision for our state, Rick Halford’s strategic abilities, Beth Kerttula’s passion for protecting the less fortunate, Ramona Barnes’ strength, and Al Adams’ mastery of the state’s finances. These Alaskans, regardless of party, were all committed to building a bright future for our state.[5] | ” |
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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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 18 to May 18. |
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Alaska State Legislature was in session from January 19 to May 19.
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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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See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Alaska State Senate District B |
Officeholder Alaska State Senate District B |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Alaska Department of Elections, "2022 General Election Candidates," accessed December 18, 2022
- ↑ Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on September 27, 2018
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Jesse Kiehl's responses," September 27, 2018
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Alaska Business Report Card, "About," accessed November 5, 2019
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Robert Myers Jr. (R) |
Alaska State Senate District B 2023-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by Dennis Egan (D) |
Alaska State Senate District Q 2019-2023 |
Succeeded by Robert Myers Jr. (R) |
