Andrew Gray (politician)
Andrew Gray | |
|---|---|
Gray testifying before the Anchorage Assembly in October 2021 | |
| Member of the Alaska House of Representatives from the 20th district | |
| Assumed office January 17, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Ivy Spohnholz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Andrew Timothy Gray February 16, 1975 (age 50) |
| Party | Democratic[1] |
| Alma mater | University of Texas at Austin Baylor College of Medicine |
| Occupation | Physician assistant |
Andrew Timothy Gray (born 1975) is an American politician. He serves as a Democratic member for the 20th district of the Alaska House of Representatives.[2][3]
Life and career
Andrew Gray grew up in Friendswood, Texas, outside of Houston.
Gray attended Occidental College and the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature in 1998. Upon graduation, he moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where he worked at Barnes & Noble on C Street. He went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston in 2012. He practiced as an Emergency Medicine physician assistant in Beverly Hills, Roseville, and Santa Cruz, California, before taking a job at the Alaska VA health center in 2016. He practiced medicine primarily at the Anchorage campus, but also at the VA’s satellite locations in Kenai, Juneau, Wasilla, and Fairbanks.
Gray also served as a physician assistant in the Army National Guard from 2014 – 2023.[4] He deployed to Kosovo in 2019 with the Alaska Army National Guard’s 1-297th Infantry Battalion where he was awarded the meritorious service medal.[5][4]
In 2022, Gray defeated Scott Kohlhaas, Jordan Harary and Paul Bauer in the general election for the 20th district of the Alaska House of Representatives, winning 54 percent of the votes.[6] He succeeded Ivy Spohnholz. He is the first openly gay man elected to the Alaska Legislature.[3] He assumed office in 2023, and was re-elected in 2024.[7] Gray serves as a member of the House Majority Coalition, Chair of House Judiciary Committee,[8][9] Co-Chair of the House Joint Armed Services Committee,[8][4] and as a member of House Health & Social Services Committee, and House Military & Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Since 2021, Gray hosts a weekly interview podcast called East Anchorage Book Club,[10] which tells the stories of Alaskans of interest and importance.
Electoral history
2024
Primary
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Andrew Gray (incumbent) | 1,122 | 67.5 | |
| Libertarian | Scott Kohlhaas | 540 | 32.5 | |
| Total votes | 1,662 | 100.0 | ||
General
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Andrew Gray (incumbent) | 3,927 | 63.8 | |
| Libertarian | Scott Kohlhaas | 2,163 | 35.1 | |
| Write-in | 67 | 1.1 | ||
| Total votes | 6,157 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||
References
- ^ "A Real Threat to Marriage Equality Looms Over Alaska". Advocate. October 5, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "House of Representatives". Alaska Legislature. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
- ^ a b Wesley, Early (November 18, 2022). "In a historic first, Alaskans set to elect 3 LGBTQ lawmakers to state Legislature". Alaska Public Media. Anchorage. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- ^ a b c Smith, Corinne (November 18, 2025). "Legislators question federal directive for Alaska National Guard to prepare for "civil disturbance"". Alaska Beacon. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
- ^ "Alaska: Andrew Gray". Advocate. November 3, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ "2022 Alaska State House - District 20 Election Results". The Indianapolis Star. November 8, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Corinne (December 25, 2024). "Alaska legislators, citing some citizen complaints, probe management of 2024 election". Alaska Beacon. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
- ^ a b Stone, Eric (November 27, 2024). "Alaska House and Senate leaders name committee chairs, talk priorities". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
- ^ Smith, Corinne (June 13, 2025). "Alaska House Judiciary Committee to hold a fact-finding hearing on ICE detention in state prisons". Alaska Beacon. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
- ^ "East Anchorage Book Club podcast". Retrieved June 2, 2025.