Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins

A Democrat, he represented the state's 35th district, which encompasses many Southeast island communities including Hoonah, Sitka, Kake, Klawock, Craig, Angoon, and Petersburg.

The act, which was passed by large bipartisan majorities in both chambers, adds Inupiaq, Siberian Yupik, Central Alaskan Yup'ik, Alutiiq, Unangax, Dena'ina, Deg Xinag, Holikachuk, Koyukon, Upper Kuskokwim, Gwich'in, Tanana, Upper Tanana, Tanacross, Hän, Ahtna, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian languages as official languages of the state.

[10] After Kreiss-Tomkins's victory in 2012, The Nation wrote an article about him titled "Alaska's Lesson for the Left" and he later featured in Politico’s "How to Turn a Red State Purple".

Following the 2014 legislative session, during which Kreiss-Tomkins sponsored a successful bill that made Alaska's Native languages official, The Washington Post named him one of its "40 Under 40" of American politicians.

As a freshman at Sitka High School in 2003, Kreiss-Tomkins attracted national attention as a major online organizer for the Howard Dean presidential campaign.

Kreiss-Tomkins and Terry Gardiner during a panel discussion at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in March 2013. Kreiss-Tomkins was the youngest incumbent member of the Alaska Legislature at the time and Gardiner is the body's youngest-ever member. This commonality drew comparisons between the two before he took office. [ 3 ] [ 4 ]
Kreiss-Tomkins, campaigning for reelection in October 2014, greets a spectator while walking down Lincoln Street in downtown Sitka during the Alaska Day Parade .