In a closely watched race, Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign has announced her lead against incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, claiming a margin of 4,250 votes as ballots are still being counted.
According to the Alaskan Division of Elections, Peltola has garnered 118,926 votes (49%), while Sullivan trails with 114,676 votes (47.2%). Republican Gerald Heikes and independent Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. hold minor percentages of the remaining votes.
Neither candidate has reached a majority, preventing an official declaration from state election officials.
“Alaskans are fed up with high costs and corruption stemming from DC, and they have made their voices heard: after every vote is counted, it is clear that Mary Peltola will be elected Alaska’s next United States Senator,” stated Peltola’s campaign manager Cheryl Bruce in a public announcement.
Claims of a decisive victory are bolstered by significant support for Peltola in Anchorage and Chevak, as Bruce noted a voting margin of 68-30 in key areas. She expressed optimism about the continued fight to prioritize Alaska’s needs in the U.S. Senate.
With the latest results, Bruce reiterated that Peltola appears to be heading towards a clear victory, leaving Sullivan with little chance of reelection.
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Mary Peltola (D) declares victory in Alaska’s US Senate race against Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) pic.twitter.com/ujGwQOmIEi
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Peltola has taken a more cautious approach in her statements. On election night, she abstained from claiming victory, recognizing the necessary time for counting, noting that voting trends are crucial. “The weather is changing… And now we are having a political change,” she reflected on the evolving landscape.
In subsequent updates, Peltola emphasized the importance of completed counts, pointing out that trends in early and absentee ballots have favored her, hovering at around 57% support.
Alaska’s ranked-choice voting may present further challenges before any official announcement. If no candidate achieves a 50% majority of first-choice votes, a ranked-choice tabulation will occur on November 18. Candidates with the lowest votes will be eliminated, redistributing their ballots until one candidate surpasses the 50% threshold.
Initial analyses show mixed predictions on second-choice transfers. While some data indicates Sullivan may gain ground, it seems unlikely he would surpass Peltola’s current lead. The final results will depend on the remaining uncounted ballots leading up to certification on November 25.
Legal disputes could potentially arise regarding Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy, often referred to as “Decoy Dan.” There are allegations suggesting Democratic operatives sought to recruit a similarly named candidate to siphon votes from Sullivan.
The U.S. Department of Justice is currently investigating possible election interference, already issuing over 120 subpoenas, while the FBI has conducted related interviews. Previous challenges to the second Sullivan’s ballot placement have not succeeded.
Peltola’s team has also initiated a lawsuit to obtain records on rejected absentee ballots, with Sullivan’s campaign seeking to intervene. These developments could lead to further legal complexities concerning ballot access and vote legitimacy if the margin remains slim.
