Mary Peltola Leads Dan Sullivan in Tight Alaska Senate Race

Fewer Than 700 Votes Separate Candidates in Undecided Alaska Senate Race

Fewer than 700 votes separated the top two candidates in Alaska’s Senate race on Friday with 74% of ballots counted, according to Local News Live. Democrat Mary Peltola held a slim margin over Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, a gap that had remained unchanged for more than 24 hours as the Last Frontier joined Mississippi as the final two states without a new senator.

As polls closed on Election Day and national tallies solidified, Alaska’s unique geography and voting mechanics slowed the final outcome to a crawl. Ballots must be flown in or mailed from remote, hard-to-reach areas across the state.

The results are not gonna be fast, but Alaskans are patient… It will be weeks. We know this. We know this. This is how it’s always been. This is normal. This is Alaska normal. — Mary Peltola

Ranked-Choice Voting and the November 18 Tabulation

Alaska relies on a ranked choice voting system that requires ballots to be tallied in multiple rounds. To secure an outright victory in the general election, a candidate must reach 50% or more of the vote.

Voters 'anxious' for final Alaska midterm election results amid close Dan Sullivan-Mary Peltola race

If no contender reaches that threshold using first-place votes, election officials take the last-place finisher and reallocate those ballots to voters’ second and third choices. That tabulation will not happen before November 18.

Federal Investigators Probe Third-Party Ballot Confusion

Complicating the tight race further, another Dan Sullivan was listed as a third-party option on the ballot.

Mary Peltola Leads Dan Sullivan in Tight Alaska Senate Race — Photo: newschannel6now.com

What’s the first order of business when [Peltola is] going to run for the Senate, to put together a secret scheme. To trick Alaskans to throw away their vote and rig the election. — Sen. Dan Sullivan

Earlier coverage: Alaska Senate Race Too Close to Call as Peltola Holds Narrow Lead Over Sullivan