Alaska Senate and Governor Races Head to Ranked Vote Tabulation
Final results for key state races depend on secondary ballots as officials wait until November 18 to certify outcomes under the ranked-choice system.
By Samir Doyle ·
Alaska voters will wait until November 18 to know the final winners in the state’s U.S. Senate and governor races. State elections officials target that date to complete the tabulation of ranked-choice votes. This process is necessary if no candidate secures more than 50 percent of first-choice ballots. The delay allows time to process votes from overseas and remote communities.
The Senate contest pits two-term Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan against Democratic former Rep. Mary Peltola. The governor’s race features former state lawmaker Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a Democrat, challenging three Republicans. Republican business owner Bernadette Wilson received an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Kreiss-Tomkins aims to become the first Democrat elected to the governor’s office in a generation.
Litigation and campaign disputes complicated the Senate race before the election. The U.S. Department of Justice sued to block certification of the race if Sullivan lost, citing potential confusion with retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan. A federal judge dismissed the suit, but the department has appealed. The New York Times reported that aides to Peltola helped recruit the other Sullivan. Federal authorities confirmed a criminal investigation into the matter.
Peltola denied any involvement in the dispute. Dan J. Sullivan has not responded to recent inquiries. Sen. Sullivan’s campaign expressed confidence in his chances despite what it called the biggest election cheating scandal in Alaska’s history. The campaign noted that Republicans suffered losses in other parts of the country.
Both campaigns urged patience while the count continues. Peltola told supporters Tuesday night that the count will take time. She highlighted the logistical challenges of counting ballots from rural areas and service members overseas. Alaska allows up to 10 days for domestic absentee ballots and 15 days for overseas votes.
In the governor’s race, Kreiss-Tomkins described the night as defining for the state’s future. He positioned himself as a consensus builder to work across party lines. State Republican leaders encouraged their voters to rank the three GOP candidates to maximize their chances. President Trump had previously criticized ranked voting as a scam and criticized two of the other Republican candidates on social media.
Bernadette Wilson stated Wednesday that she is cautiously optimistic about the days ahead. Alaskans also voted on a measure to repeal the open primary and ranked vote system. Voters approved the system in 2020 and narrowly rejected a repeal effort in 2024. The state’s last Democratic governor served from 1994 to 2002.
