David S. Wilson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David S. Wilson
Wilson in 2020
Member of the Alaska Senate
Incumbent
Assumed office January 17, 2017
Preceded by	Charlie Huggins
Constituency	D (2017-23) N (since 2023)
Personal details
Born	David Sylvester Wilson 1981 (age 43–44) California
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Aleta
Residence	Wasilla, Alaska
Alma mater	Alaska Pacific University

David Sylvester Wilson (born 1981) is an American politician from Alaska. He is a member of the Republican Party. Since 2017, Wilson has represented the city of Wasilla in the Alaska Senate. Before becoming a senator, he served as a city councilman in Wasilla.

When he was 35 years old, Wilson was elected to the Senate. He won a close election against Representative Lynn Gattis in the Republican primary in August 2016. He ran to take the place of longtime Senator Charlie Huggins, who was retiring.

Wilson received support from a group called the conservative Republican Assembly during his campaign. However, he did not have the official backing of the Alaska Republican Party. He had only joined the Republican Party less than a year before winning his primary election. Before that, he was an independent voter.

A Historic Step in Alaska

When David Wilson took office on January 17, 2017, he made history. He became the first African-American person elected to the Senate from Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna Valley.

Wilson is the eighth African-American person to serve in the Alaska Legislature. Out of these eight, he is the third Republican. He is also the second African-American senator and the first Republican senator. He is the first to represent an area of Alaska outside of Anchorage or Fairbanks.

Making Laws for Alaska

Senator Wilson has been successful in helping to pass new laws every year he has been in office. Here are a few examples of the laws he has supported:

• SB 46 (2017): This law created "African American Soldiers' Contribution to Building the Alaska Highway Day." This special day is celebrated every year on October 25.
• SB 134 (2018): This law helped people get medical help for mental health services. It made sure that licensed professional counselors could be paid for their services through medical assistance programs.
• SB 55 (2019): This law made changes related to judges who work for the court of appeals.
• SB 24 (2021): This law made it easier for companies to hold meetings and vote online. It also allowed shareholder lists to be shared electronically.

About David Wilson's Life

David Wilson was born in California. He grew up in a Christian family. He went to Alaska Pacific University, where he studied psychology. While at the university, he met his wife, Aleta.

See also

• Black conservatism in the United States
• List of African-American Republicans
• List of first African-American U.S. state legislators