Alaska Senate race drags on as ranked-choice count exposes a divided electorate
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
Incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola are still waiting on the outcome of Alaska's ranked-choice tabulation, a process that could take weeks and underscores the state's slow, complicated voting system.
Incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola are still waiting for a result in Alaska's Senate race, with the final count expected to take several weeks. The ballot also includes independent candidate Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher, and Republican Gerald Heikes.
Approximately three-quarters of the votes have been tallied, but under Alaska's ranked-choice voting system a candidate must secure more than 50% of first-choice votes to win outright. If no one reaches that threshold, the tabulation proceeds to additional rounds, which will not begin until 15 days after Election Day.
The delayed outcome comes as Democrats have already secured a Senate majority, while Republicans are still hoping the Alaska result could shift the balance of power. Another unresolved contest, the Mississippi Senate race, also remains pending.
"The results are not going to be fast. But Alaskans are patient," Sen. Mary Peltola told reporters, adding that the timeline would be measured in weeks rather than days.
"We're going to have a long night," Sen. Dan Sullivan said, noting that the process could extend over several weeks.