Alaska Senate Race Remains Unresolved

The Alaska Senate race is still undecided. Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola are separated by less than 700 votes. The presence of a candidate with a similar name, Dan J. Sullivan, has added complexity. He received thousands of votes and influenced the race, according to reports.

The latest update on Monday showed Democratic nominee Mary Peltola leading by 2,517 first-choice votes over incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola has 48.6% (106,321 votes) while Sullivan stands at 47.5% (103,804 votes). Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system will come into play if neither candidate achieves over 50% of the vote.

The election is under heavier scrutiny due to what has been described as the “Decoy Dan” strategy. The race also includes Republican Gerald Heikes with 2.2% of votes (4,865) and independent Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. with 1.7% (3,651 votes). Approximately 75–76% of the expected votes are in, with significant early, absentee, and questioned ballots yet to be counted.

According to Cheryl Bruce, Peltola’s campaign manager, Peltola gained 68-30 in key areas such as Anchorage and Chevak. Her victory path appears strong, with her focus on reducing costs and prioritizing Alaska in the U.S. Senate. Monday’s vote count slightly shifted the balance from a 637-vote edge held post-election.

Both Sen. Sullivan and President Donald Trump anticipate that further rounds of ranked-choice voting will help consolidate Republican votes. The process eliminates the lowest candidates and redistributes votes based on voter rankings until a candidate surpasses 50%. The official RCV tabulation is set for November 18 following the absentee ballot deadline.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy described the state’s system as “confusing” and “slow.” He expects significant vote releases on November 13 and 18. Additionally, investigations continue into whether there was wrongdoing involved in the “Decoy Dan” candidacy, with ongoing reviews by the Division of Elections and the Department of Justice.

Other statewide races remain dynamic with Democratic and Republican candidates in fluctuating positions. The gubernatorial race sees Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins leading with 49.6% against Republican Bernadette Wilson’s 28.9%. In the U.S. House race, Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, leads with 49.19% of votes.

Ballot Measure 2, which addresses open primaries and the ranked-choice voting system, is at risk of rejection, with about 52.3% voting against repeal.

The certification of election results is slated for November 25. Moreover, Democrats have gained control in the Senate, holding a 54-44 advantage. Results from Alaska and Mississippi remain critical to potential further shifts in the Senate balance.