Alaska voters are waiting for final results in key races including the U.S. Senate contest between Sen. Dan Sullivan and Mary Peltola, and the governor's race involving Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Bernadette Wilson. Because Alaska utilizes a system of open primaries and ranked-choice voting in the general election, final outcomes may not be known until state officials complete tabulations targeted for Nov. 18.
The delay is due to Alaska's law allowing up to 15 days after the election to receive ballots from overseas voters and up to 10 days for domestic absentee ballots. These timelines are critical for rural communities accessible only by air or water. If no candidate secures more than 50% of first-choice votes, the ranked-choice tabulation process will determine the winner.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic candidate Mary Peltola addressed supporters on election night, noting that while Democrats had won enough seats nationally to gain control of the Senate, the Alaska count would take time. Peltola stated, "It's going to take a long time to make sure we're counting every vote from every far-flung hinterland community, from every tiny outpost, from all of our service members serving overseas, our young people going to colleges." She urged patience as ballots from remote areas arrive.
In the governor's race, Democratic candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins described election night as "a night this is for the future of our state." He positioned himself as a consensus builder seeking to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, stating he would work across party lines to address state challenges. Kreiss-Tomkins is attempting to become the first Democrat elected governor since Tony Knowles served from 1994 to 2002.
Peltola has denied involvement in the controversy surrounding a third candidate in the Senate race, Dan J. Sullivan. Reports from The New York Times indicated that top political aides to Peltola may have been involved in recruiting the retired teacher, but Peltola has stated she had no part in it.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan's campaign expressed confidence in his chances, stating in a Wednesday announcement that they remain optimistic "despite the biggest election cheating scandal in the history of Alaska" and "despite a bloodbath for Republicans everywhere else in the country." Sullivan and his supporters have long suspected that the presence of Dan J. Sullivan on the ballot was designed to sow confusion among voters.
President Donald Trump, who endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Bernadette Wilson, has criticized the state's voting system. At a rally in Wasilla last month, Trump called ranked-choice voting a "scam." He also criticized the other two Republican candidates in the governor's race, former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson and former state Attorney General Treg Taylor, on social media.
Bernadette Wilson issued a statement on Wednesday expressing that she was "cautiously optimistic for the days ahead." State Republican leaders urged voters to rank the three GOP candidates to maximize the party's chances of retaining the governor's office. The Department of Justice, at Trump's direction, previously sued to block certification of the Senate race if Sullivan lost, citing potential voter confusion, though a federal judge dismissed the suit.
What the Numbers Show
Alaska state election officials have targeted Nov. 18 as the date to complete tabulations under the ranked-vote system. The state allows up to 15 days after the election for overseas ballots and up to 10 days for domestic absentee ballots. In the Senate race, the major candidates are Sen. Dan Sullivan and former Rep. Mary Peltola. In the governor's race, the field includes Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Republican Bernadette Wilson, and Republicans Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor.
The Senate race attracted attention from the U.S. Department of Justice, which filed a lawsuit citing potential confusion with candidate Dan J. Sullivan. A federal judge dismissed this lawsuit, but the department has appealed. Federal authorities have confirmed the existence of a criminal investigation into the recruitment of Dan J. Sullivan, based on reports involving text messages and campaign finance documents. Peltola denied any involvement, and Dan J. Sullivan has not responded to recent requests for comment.
Voters are also deciding on a ballot measure to repeal Alaska's open primary and ranked-vote general election system. This is the second time in two years voters have considered repealing the system, which was approved in 2020 and took effect in 2022. Voters narrowly rejected a repeal effort in the previous cycle.
The Bottom Line
The final outcomes in Alaska's Senate and governor's races remain undecided pending the completion of ranked-choice tabulations. The timing is dictated by state laws regarding absentee and overseas ballots, with a target date of Nov. 18 for final counts. The races are characterized by significant legal and political contention, including an ongoing appeal by the Department of Justice regarding the Senate race certification and a criminal investigation into candidate recruitment. The simultaneous ballot measure to repeal the ranked-choice voting system adds another layer of uncertainty to the state's election infrastructure.