Peltola leads Sullivan by 626 votes in Alaska Senate race as absentee ballots remain uncounted

Democratic challenger Mary Peltola held a razor-thin lead over incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race early Wednesday morning, with thousands of absentee and early votes still to be counted and the outcome far from decided.

The contest matters well beyond Alaska’s borders. The result could extend already-enormous Democratic gains in the Senate or hand Republicans a rare consolation prize after heavy losses on Election Day. As of 3 a.m. Wednesday, with 394 of 401 precincts reporting, Peltola had 48% of first-choice votes to Sullivan’s 47.7% — a margin of just 626 votes out of 213,873 cast. Independent challenger Dan J. Sullivan drew 1.7% (3,583 votes) and Republican Gerald Heikes took 2.3% (4,821 votes). Alaska Beacon reported that thousands of absentee and early ballots cast before Election Day remain uncounted, along with some votes from rural precincts believed to favor Peltola.

Republican Dan Sullivan blasts Democrat Mary Peltola in last push to midterm Alaska election voters

626 Votes Separate the Candidates, and the Count Could Take Weeks

Both campaigns addressed supporters Tuesday night with confidence, though their tones diverged sharply. “I’m confident when all the votes are counted, I will have the honor of representing you in the United States Senate,” Sullivan told supporters. Peltola, speaking at an Election Day rally, set expectations for a long count: “The results are not going to be fast, but Alaskans are patient.”

Sullivan also went on the attack, thanking his staff, family and volunteers before alluding to a New York Times article that said Peltola was verbally and physically abusive to staff. “We are not the kind of campaign office or official congressional office that burns through 25 people in two years … we’re not blowing through 25 people after they get physically and emotionally abused, but I’m digressing,” he said. “We have run a campaign based on our record, and character, and truth, and integrity, and respect for Alaskans, and that’s what Alaskans want.”

BREAKING: Dan Sullivan Speaks To Supporters As Alaska Results Show Very Close Race With Mary Peltola

Peltola, for her part, framed the race as a fight against outside influence. “No one from the Lower 48 is going to tell us anything about ourselves or our state,” she told the crowd. “I see hundreds of people in this room who do not care how much money Elon Musk has put into this race. We do not care. We do not care what Elon Musk thinks.” She added: “We know exactly how we feel. We know exactly what we think. We are standing up. We are fighting back. And it just feels so good to be part of this movement.”

Legal Challenges Threatened, but Trump Declines to Contest

The narrow margin has already triggered talk of legal action. Prior to the announcement of initial results, certain GOP officials said they would contest the validity of a Peltola win, referencing a different New York Times piece alleging Democratic campaign workers recruited the independent Dan J. Sullivan to siphon votes from the incumbent. Attorney General Todd Blanche, speaking on Fox News early Tuesday, said he would continue to fight the issue “tooth and nail,” and the U.S. Department of Justice escalated a criminal investigation into the recruitment on Election Day, sending subpoenas to Democratic campaigners cited in the reporting. But late Tuesday, President Donald Trump — who had ordered civil challenges against Peltola — told the Times he would not challenge the election results.

The stakes reach into Senate control and history. A Peltola win would make her the 55th or 56th Democratic senator in a large Democratic majority, whereas a Sullivan victory would leave him part of a shrunken Senate Republican caucus that will now be in the minority. In addition, if Peltola prevails, she and U.S. Sen.-elect Peggy Flanagan, D-Minnesota will be the first female indigenous Senators in American history.

“We just want to make sure the folks from the Lower 48 know it won’t be hours. It won’t be days. It will be weeks. It will be weeks. We know this. We know this. This is how it’s always been. This is normal. This is Alaska normal.”

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