Politics · United States · 10 hrs ago
Peltola widens narrow lead in Alaska Senate race, which remains undecided
Mary Peltola widened her lead over Dan Sullivan in Alaska’s Senate race as more ballots were counted nine days after the election.
The Associated Press had processed 86 percent of the ballots, and Peltola led by nearly 4,000 votes.
Both candidates remain below 50 percent, so Alaska’s ranked-choice system could decide the winner if no one reaches a majority of first-choice votes.
Under that system, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated, and those ballots are counted for voters’ next choices.
Peltola’s campaign had sought records identifying rejected absentee ballots, but an Alaska judge denied the request, citing that it was not reasonable or required at this stage; state lawyers also raised voter privacy concerns.
The state’s ballot-counting deadline is November 18, though the winner may not be known until later in the month.
Mary Peltola widened her lead over Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan in Alaska’s Senate race, but the result remains undecided.
The Associated Press had processed 86 percent of ballots, with Peltola at 48.9 percent and Sullivan at about 47.3 percent.
The state’s deadline to finish counting remaining absentee, mail-in and provisional ballots is November 18.
Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system could determine the winner if no candidate receives more than half of first-choice votes.
An Alaska judge rejected Peltola’s campaign request for records about absentee ballots flagged for possible rejection.
- Who
- Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan are competing for Alaska’s Senate seat.
- What
- Peltola widened her lead, but the race remains too close to call.
- When
- The updated count was reported on November 12, nine days after the election.
- Where
- Alaska, United States.
- Why
- Counting is ongoing as officials process remaining ballots; the result may also depend on ranked-choice voting.
Mary Peltola
Dan Sullivan
Race outcome
Mary Peltola
Peltola’s campaign said her continued gains in traditionally conservative areas showed Sullivan’s path to victory was non-existent.
Dan Sullivan
Sullivan remained confident after election day that he could win if ranked-choice tabulation came into play.
Alaskans voted in the Senate race.
Trump claimed on Truth Social that the Alaska race was over and that Sullivan had won.
Trump criticized Peltola again and called the Senate race a rigged election.
The AP had processed 86 percent of ballots, and Peltola’s lead had grown to almost 4,000 votes.
Alaska’s deadline to finish counting remaining absentee, mail-in and provisional ballots.
- Candidates
- Mary Peltola and Dan Sullivan
- Ballots processed
- 86 percent, according to the AP
- Peltola's share
- 48.9 percent
- Sullivan's share
- About 47.3 percent
- Counting deadline
- November 18
- Court ruling
- Judge Thomas Matthews rejected Peltola’s campaign request for absentee ballot records
3 sources
What people are saying
chosen to err on the side of getting it right rather than a rush to report the second and third tranches of ballots that get counted
the Alaska Race is OVER
Dan Sullivan WON, BY A LOT!
It is clear that Sullivan's remaining pockets of support are getting smaller by the day.