Alaska Senate race hovers within 700 votes as ranked choice count begins

Democrat Mary Peltola held a slight lead over incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in the Alaska Senate race as of Friday. With 74 percent of ballots counted, the gap between the two candidates stood at fewer than 700 votes.

The margin had remained static for more than 24 hours. As polls closed on Election Day, Mississippi and Alaska were the only two states left without a declared winner for their Senate seats. Peltola told supporters that a lengthy count is standard procedure for the state.

“The results are not gonna be fast, but Alaskans are patient.. It will be weeks,” Peltola said. She noted that this timeline is normal for Alaska due to its unique election mechanics.

Alaska utilizes a ranked choice voting system. In a general election, a candidate must secure at least 50 percent of the vote to win. If no candidate achieves that threshold with first-place votes, officials eliminate the lowest finisher and reallocate those ballots to subsequent choices. That specific tabulation process will not occur before November 18.

Logistical challenges also extend the timeline, as ballots from remote areas must be flown or mailed to central counting locations. This year’s count faces additional scrutiny because a third-party candidate named Dan Sullivan appeared on the ballot. The Department of Justice and the FBI are currently investigating the candidacy.

Incumbent Sullivan alleged that the same-named candidate was part of a secret scheme to trick voters. The Trump administration filed a lawsuit to prevent the election from being certified if Peltola wins, claiming Democrats plotted to add the duplicate name to pull votes.