Alaska Senate Race Unresolved as Close Contest Continues

The race for the Alaska Senate remains unsettled, with Democrat Mary Peltola inching ahead of Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan by a margin of fewer than 700 votes. Suspense heightens as the impact of candidate Daniel J. Sullivan, who shares a similar name and amassed thousands of votes, becomes apparent.

A new set of vote totals is expected Tuesday night, potentially altering current standings. As of midday Tuesday, Peltola extends her lead to 2,517 first-choice votes, standing at 48.6% compared to Sullivan’s 47.5%. This contest operates under a ranked-choice voting system, which will activate if no candidate surpasses the 50% mark.

The contentious race unveiled a strategy dubbed the “Decoy Dan” scheme by The New York Times. Republican Gerald Heikes currently holds 2.2% of the vote, while independent candidate Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. captures 1.7%. Approximately 75-76% of the anticipated votes are in, leaving tens of thousands still uncounted, including early, absentee, and questioned ballots.

“After every vote is counted, it is clear that Mary Peltola will be elected Alaska’s next United States Senator,” stated Peltola campaign manager Cheryl Bruce, highlighting Peltola’s significant support in Anchorage and Chevak.

Monday’s release of nearly 5,000 ballots shifted the lead from a slender 637-vote margin previously held since Election Day. Both Sen. Sullivan and President Donald Trump have speculated that the Republican could consolidate support if ranked-choice voting progresses to subsequent rounds.

Alaska’s voting system eliminates the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes, reallocating those ballots according to secondary preferences until a candidate exceeds 50%. Present projections suggest this process might benefit Peltola through votes from Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr. The ranked-choice voting tabulation is set for November 18, following overseas absentee deadlines.

Governor Mike Dunleavy describes the election timetable as methodical. Substantial vote counts are anticipated on Friday, November 13, and Wednesday, November 18. Dunleavy continues to scrutinize the “Decoy Dan” candidacy, as allegations persist from some Republicans regarding its impact on the election. The Department of Elections and the Department of Justice are investigating these concerns.

In other statewide races, Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins has a 49.6% lead in the governor’s race, with Republican opponent Bernadette Wilson trailing at 28.9%. Meanwhile, Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, holds a strong lead in the U.S. House election. Voters have shown resistance to Ballot Measure 2, favoring the continuation of open primaries and ranked-choice voting.

Certification of results is planned for November 25. Democrats presently control the Senate with a 54-44 majority. With both the Alaska and Mississippi Senate races undecided, possible wins could extend their majority further.