Alaska Senate Race: Margin Narrows as Ranked Choice Count Begins

Mary Peltola holds a lead of fewer than 700 votes over incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan in the Alaska Senate race. This margin remained static for more than 24 hours after Friday’s count reached 74% of all ballots. The narrow gap leaves the outcome of the election undecided as officials proceed with the remaining tallies.

Alaska and Mississippi were the only two states without a confirmed winner following the close of polls. Peltola told supporters that the lengthy count is a standard part of the state’s electoral process. She noted that Alaskans are accustomed to waiting several weeks for final results in this region.

The state utilizes a ranked choice voting system for this general election. A candidate must secure at least 50% of the vote to win immediately. If no candidate achieves this threshold using first-place votes, officials will eliminate the lowest finisher and reallocate those ballots to the next preferred choice. Officials stated that this specific tabulation step will not begin before November 18.

Logistical challenges also contribute to the delay. Ballots from remote areas must be transported by air or mail, extending the total time required to certify the result. This year’s process includes an additional layer of scrutiny due to a dispute involving a third-party candidate.

A third candidate named Dan Sullivan appeared on the ballot, creating confusion among some voters. The Justice Department and the FBI are investigating the matter. The incumbent Senator accused the Democratic campaign of using a secret scheme to trick voters and rig the election. He described the strategy as a ploy to force voters to throw away their votes.

The Trump administration filed a lawsuit to prevent the certification of the election if Peltola wins. The administration’s claim centers on the presence of the same-named third-party candidate. They argue that the addition was a calculated move by Democrats to pull votes from the main contest.