In a story that could probably only happen in Juneau, the mostly Democratic House majority’s new press person has some recent, and dramatic, history with a member of the Republican House minority. 

Chloe Pleznac resigned as a reporter from the Homer News in October 2025, along with three other staff, after the newspaper’s decision to remove an article Pleznac wrote about a vigil following the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

The resignation came after Representative Sarah Vance (R – Homer) wrote a letter to the publisher, Carpenter Media Group, expressing disgust about the story. 

In the letter, Vance wrote:

From the opening paragraphs, reporter Chloe Pleznac branded Charlie Kirk with prejudicial labels such as “far-right” and “Christian-Nationalist icon,” while smearing his views as “racist,” “controversial,” and “conspiracy theories.” These are not facts, they are editorial judgments and political talking points. If the intent was to write an opinion piece, it should have been clearly marked as such.

Carpenter Media Group acquiesced to Vance’s demands, pulling down the story and then reposting it with several changes without consulting or informing the editor of the Homer News. Not long after, Pleznac and three other staff resigned. They wrote an op-ed in the Anchorage Daily News explaining their decision to resign from the newspaper. 

In the aftermath, the story was covered by the New York Times and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 

Out of a job, Pleznac applied for a press job with House majority. She was hired in November. 

Pleznac told the Landmine, “Accepting the job wasn’t personal. I needed a job. I am more bothered about the newspaper’s decision to pull the story. I am super grateful and excited for my new role with the House majority.”

In a twist of irony, the House majority press office is located directly across from Vance’s office!

When asked about the House majority’s decision to hire Pleznac, Vance told the Landmine, “I have no personal vendetta against Chloe. If she’s going to be a great staffer, then I wish her success. Me calling out the article was geared at wanting fair and unbiased reporting.” 

While Vance and Pleznac are now neighbors, the matter is not totally unresolved.

Vance is currently facing an ethics probe into her use of official state letterhead and state resources in the letter she wrote in response to Pleznac’s article about the Charlie Kirk vigil.