Alaska News

Photos: Alaska GOP convenes splinter meeting

If you thought that the inner squabbling and drama that has taken over the Alaska Republican Party was over after April's dramatic and squabbling party convention, think again.

The party that for years now has been known for its discipline and acquiescence to authority was at it again Saturday morning at the school attached to the Anchorage Baptist Temple, and then again later in the day at a church in downtown Anchorage, where among other things, they voted to censure U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and to deny state GOP funds to certain state senators.

Saturday's reconvening was the brainchild of Russ Millette, Alaska's next chair of the Alaska GOP. He put out a call for state Republicans to finish what they started at the tumultuous state GOP convention in late April.

Millette is a supporter of GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul. With the help of failed 2010 U.S. Senate candidate Joe Miller, Millette captured the hearts and minds of Alaska's Paul supporters and dissatisfied Republicans to win the state GOP chairmanship at the April convention.

But the saga over who will take control of the party and when continued Saturday as GOP delegates from across the state reconvened the convention. It started in the morning, when shortly after they arrived at the Anchorage Baptist Temple school, they were told to go home by outgoing party chairman Randy Ruedrich.

READ MORE: Breaking up and making up at Alaska Republican Party (re)convention

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