Alaska Senate: Late night vote count tightens
Ballots from overseas extend the deadline to November 18, leaving the outcome of the ranked-choice election in suspense.
By Javier Sanders ·
A lead of 2.5 percent defined the margin for retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan in the August primary, a figure that now anchors a chaotic final stretch for the Alaska U.S. Senate race. On Tuesday night, the two major candidates, incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and former Democrat Rep. Mary Peltola, urged their supporters to wait for the final count.
The contest became a focal point for the balance of power in the Senate, a chamber the Democrats had taken before the polls closed. Both campaigns held late-night events where they projected confidence despite the slow arrival of data. Sullivan told his crowd, “Lower 48 blue wave. But we're different.” Peltola, standing at her own event, declared, “We are getting our government back.”
Tensions in the race escalated after reports suggested Peltola’s team tried to recruit Dan J. Sullivan. He is a retired teacher from Petersburg who qualified for the ballot with a top-four finish in the primary. His presence revived suspicions that he was a strategic addition to confuse voters who might mistake him for the incumbent. Peltola denied any involvement in that effort, and Dan J. Sullivan said he had not contacted her campaign.
President Donald Trump focused on the third candidate, labeling Dan J. Sullivan “fake.” The administration filed a lawsuit less than two weeks before the election to block certification if the incumbent lost. A federal judge dismissed that suit, and the Justice Department has since appealed the decision. A criminal investigation is also underway, though U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman has not disclosed the specific targets or crimes.
The counting process is prolonged by Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system and its allowance for overseas ballots. The state accepts mail-in votes postmarked by Election Day until November 18. If no candidate secures more than 50 percent of first-choice votes, officials must conduct further tabulations using the rankings provided by voters. Both major candidates currently sit below that majority threshold.
Early returns showed Peltola leading, but Sullivan eventually overtook her as the race tightened. Peltola acknowledged the delay, noting the need to count votes from remote communities, service members, and college students. She told the room, “It’s going to take a long time to make sure we’re counting every vote.” Sullivan expressed similar patience, stating he was confident he would win once all votes were tallied.
The ballot lists the incumbent as Dan S. Sullivan and the teacher as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. Sullivan called the situation a major issue in state history, while Peltola described her supporters as smart people who know exactly who they are voting for. The final tally will arrive by the mid-November deadline.
