On Monday, the Alaska House voted to urge President Donald Trump to reverse his decision and keep the name of North America’s tallest peak as Denali.
This vote came one week after Trump, on his first day in office, signed an executive order to change the name back to Mount McKinley. This action revived a proposal Trump had made years earlier, which has been opposed by many Alaskans, including the state’s Republican U.S. senators.
The vote passed with a margin of 28-10, though a reconsideration notice was issued, meaning the resolution could be revisited before being sent to the Senate.
The Alaska House is controlled by a majority coalition that includes Democrats, independents, and two Republicans. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Maxine Dibert, a Democrat of Koyukon Athabascan descent. She emphasized that Denali, which means “the high one” in Koyukon Athabascan, is more than just a name to the people of Alaska.
Rep. Maxine Dibert emphasized that Denali is not just a name but also a symbol of history, culture, and respect.
Meanwhile, minority Republicans attempted, but failed, to amend the resolution to include a message of “gratitude” to President Trump for a separate order promoting oil and gas drilling, mining, and logging in Alaska. Some Republicans felt this would be a fitting gesture, as the resolution would likely be the first formal communication from the Legislature to the Trump administration.
Rep. Kevin McCabe, a Republican, suggested that adding supportive language regarding the executive order on natural resources could strengthen the resolution. He proposed that it might be a way to unite the Legislature and convey a message to President Trump: “Thanks for your efforts, but could you reconsider the renaming of Denali?”
The National Park Service notes that in 1896, a prospector named the peak Mount McKinley in honor of William McKinley, the Ohio native who was elected president that year. However, McKinley never visited Alaska.
The name Mount McKinley was officially recognized by the U.S. government until 2015, when the Obama administration changed it to Denali. The name change was intended to honor the traditions of Alaska Natives and the wishes of many Alaskans, who had advocated for the shift for decades. Denali, standing at 20,310 feet (6,190 meters) in Denali National Park and Preserve, can be seen from hundreds of miles away on clear days.
Last week, the Interior Department announced efforts to carry out President Trump’s executive order to revert the name to Mount McKinley, although state leaders still view the matter as unresolved.
Alaska Republican Senator Dan Sullivan expressed his preference for keeping the name Denali, saying it reflects the heritage of the “patriotic, strong Athabascan people” who named the mountain thousands of years ago. He added that discussions with the Trump administration would continue. Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy also mentioned that he plans to discuss the matter with the president next month in Washington.