The Alaska Senate race remained unresolved Wednesday, November 11, 2026, after a state judge rejected Mary Peltola’s request for a centralized list of rejected absentee ballots while election officials continued counting votes.
Unofficial first-choice results showed Democratic candidate Mary Peltola with 118,926 votes, or 48.95 per cent, compared with 114,676 votes, or 47.20 per cent, for Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan.
Peltola’s lead was 4,250 votes in the latest reported tally.
Neither leading candidate had crossed the 50 per cent threshold required to avoid Alaska’s ranked-choice tabulation process.
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Judge rejects Peltola campaign’s ballot-data request
Alaska Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews ruled Wednesday that Peltola’s campaign had not shown that its request for a list of rejected absentee voters was reasonable given the time pressure facing election officials.
The campaign said it wanted the information to help ensure that eligible ballots were counted and to understand why some absentee ballots had been rejected.
State attorneys argued that the requested reports contained confidential voter information, including home addresses, and should not be distributed outside the existing review process.
Campaign and party observers can watch absentee-ballot review at regional election offices, but they must sign confidentiality agreements and cannot copy or record the reports used during the process.
The ruling does not end the counting process or determine the outcome of the Senate contest.
Why the Alaska Senate race is still not called
Alaska election officials are still processing absentee, early in-person and questioned ballots from the November 3 general election.
The state allows ballots from overseas voters to arrive for up to 15 days after the election.
That makes November 18, 2026, the final scheduled arrival date for those ballots from the general election.
The Alaska Division of Elections has also targeted November 18 for the official ranked-choice tabulation if neither candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes after all eligible ballots are counted.
Under Alaska’s system, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated first.
Ballots cast for that candidate are then transferred to the next preference marked by each voter.
The process continues until one candidate has a majority of active votes.
That means Peltola’s current first-choice lead does not by itself guarantee that she will win the seat.
What happens next
Election officials are expected to release additional vote updates as absentee and other outstanding ballots are reviewed.
If no candidate reaches 50 per cent after the remaining first-choice ballots are counted, the ranked-choice tabulation will determine whether Peltola or Sullivan wins the Senate seat.
The result must then proceed through Alaska’s certification process before the winner is formally declared.
The contest is being watched closely because it is one of the few unresolved U.S. Senate races from the 2026 midterm elections and could affect the balance of power in Washington.
The campaign dispute over absentee-ballot data is separate from the ranked-choice count.
Wednesday’s decision addressed access to election records, not the validity of ballots already accepted or rejected by the state review process.
The candidates and the unusual ballot
Sullivan is seeking another term in the Senate, while Peltola is attempting to return to statewide federal office after previously representing Alaska in the U.S. House.
The ballot also included another candidate named Dan Sullivan, creating confusion in a race where the incumbent’s name was already highly recognizable.
That unusual ballot structure prompted legal and political disputes before and after Election Day, but the state continued with the scheduled count.
For now, the central facts are straightforward: Peltola leads the unofficial first-choice count, Sullivan remains within striking distance, and the winner has not yet been determined.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading the Alaska Senate race?
Democrat Mary Peltola is leading Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan in the latest unofficial first-choice count, but the race has not been called.
What were the latest Alaska Senate vote totals?
The latest reported tally listed Peltola with 118,926 votes, or 48.95 per cent, and Sullivan with 114,676 votes, or 47.20 per cent.
When will Alaska count ranked-choice votes?
The Alaska Division of Elections has targeted November 18, 2026, for ranked-choice tabulation if no candidate reaches a majority after outstanding ballots are counted.
Why did Mary Peltola’s campaign go to court?
The campaign sought access to a centralized list of rejected absentee ballots and the reasons for rejection, saying the information could help ensure eligible votes were counted.
Does Peltola’s current lead guarantee victory?
No. If no candidate wins more than 50 per cent of first-choice votes, Alaska will transfer lower-ranked candidates’ ballots until one candidate reaches a majority.
Fact-Checked: Key vote totals, the court ruling, ballot deadline and planned ranked-choice tabulation were checked against Alaska election information and current reporting on the Alaska Division of Elections process. ([foxnews.com](https://www.foxnews.com/elections/2026/midterm-results/state/alaska?utm_source=openai))
Disclaimer: Vote totals remain unofficial until Alaska completes its count, ranked-choice tabulation if required and certification process.