The Alaska Senate election remained unresolved Wednesday, November 4, after Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan took a narrow lead over Democrat Mary Peltola in the first count from Tuesday’s vote.
With more than 80 per cent of precincts reporting late Tuesday night in Alaska, Sullivan held about 48.3 per cent of the vote to Peltola’s 47.5 per cent.
A second candidate named Dan J.
Sullivan had about 1.7 per cent.
The figures are unofficial and do not establish a winner.
Alaska is still accepting eligible mail-in ballots, including ballots sent from overseas, meaning the balance could change before the count is complete.
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Alaska Senate election has no declared winner
Neither Sullivan nor Peltola had been declared the winner as of Wednesday morning in Toronto.
The race is being closely watched because a Democratic victory would flip a Republican-held Senate seat in a state that has not elected a Democratic senator since 2008.
Sullivan, who is seeking a third term, told supporters Tuesday night that he was confident he would continue representing Alaska.
Peltola, a former U.S. representative, also addressed supporters after taking an early lead in the evening.
The contest shifted repeatedly as ballots from different parts of the state were reported.
The eventual result will depend on the remaining first-choice votes and whether any candidate reaches the threshold required to avoid a ranked-choice tabulation.
How ranked-choice voting could decide the race
Alaska uses ranked-choice voting for its general elections.
Voters rank candidates, and a candidate who receives more than half of the first-choice votes wins.
If no candidate reaches that mark, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and those ballots are transferred according to voters’ next choices.
Because the two leading candidates were separated by less than one percentage point in the reported count, the second Dan Sullivan’s ballots could become significant if the race proceeds to another round.
The state has scheduled the ranked-choice tabulation for November 18 if no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the initial vote.
That date is separate from the ongoing process of receiving and counting ballots.
Ballot controversy hangs over the Alaska Senate race
The campaign’s final days were dominated by controversy over the presence of two candidates named Dan Sullivan on the ballot.
The second candidate is Dan J.
Sullivan, a retired Petersburg teacher, while the incumbent is Dan S.
Sullivan.
The unusual ballot arrangement prompted legal and political disputes before Election Day.
The incumbent’s campaign and Republican allies argued that the similar names could confuse voters, while Peltola denied involvement in recruiting the second candidate.
A federal judge rejected an effort to block certification of the Senate results based on the ballot dispute before voting took place.
The election count is therefore proceeding under Alaska’s regular rules.
What happens next
Alaska election officials will continue processing eligible ballots received under state deadlines.
The unofficial first-choice count may change as additional ballots are added.
If no candidate exceeds 50 per cent, ranked-choice tabulation is scheduled for November 18.
The state will later certify the final result after the counting and review process is completed.
The unresolved Alaska contest does not prevent the broader U.S. election result from being clear.
Democrats have won control of both chambers of Congress, but the Alaska seat remains one of the outstanding Senate results from the November 3 midterm election.
For now, the central question is whether Sullivan can preserve his narrow first-count advantage or whether late-arriving ballots give Peltola the lead before the state conducts its final tabulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading the Alaska Senate election?
Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan was narrowly ahead of Democrat Mary Peltola in the reported first-choice vote, but no winner had been declared.
When will the Alaska Senate race be decided?
Additional ballots must be counted first. If no candidate receives more than 50 per cent, Alaska has scheduled ranked-choice tabulation for November 18, 2026.
Why are there two Dan Sullivans on the ballot?
The ballot lists incumbent Dan S. Sullivan and another candidate, Dan J. Sullivan, a retired Petersburg teacher.
Does Alaska use ranked-choice voting for the Senate election?
Yes. If no candidate wins more than half of the first-choice votes, the lowest-performing candidate is eliminated and votes are transferred according to voters’ rankings.
Can late ballots change the Alaska Senate result?
Yes. Alaska accepts eligible mailed and overseas ballots after Election Day, so the reported totals can change before the count and certification are complete.
Fact-Checked: Key vote totals, ballot deadlines, ranked-choice procedures and the scheduled tabulation date were checked against Alaska Division of Elections information and current election reporting. ([elections.alaska.gov](https://www.elections.alaska.gov/election-results/?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: Vote totals are unofficial until Alaska election officials complete the count and certify the result.