Sullivan, Peltola Senate Race Remains Undecided
Alaska's ranked-choice count is still underway, with about three-quarters of votes tallied as the contest is considered a toss-up.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
The Alaska Senate race between Republican Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola remained undecided as of Wednesday, with around three-quarters of votes counted. Alaska's ranked-choice system means the final outcome could take several weeks to determine.
Why it matters
Because a candidate must exceed 50% of first-choice votes to win outright, the race may hinge on later counting rounds. The outcome will affect Alaska's representation in the U.S. Senate.
Roughly three-quarters of ballots had been tallied by Wednesday morning, and a candidate needs more than 50% of first-choice votes to win without further rounds. The final result remains unknown while counting continues.
The players
Dan Sullivan
Dan Sullivan is the Republican incumbent U.S. senator from Alaska seeking reelection in this race.
Mary Peltola
Mary Peltola is a Democrat who previously served as Alaska's U.S. House representative from 2022 to 2025 and was the first Alaska Native woman elected to Congress.
The details
Alaska uses a ranked-choice voting system, so if no candidate clears 50% of first-choice votes, additional counting rounds are required before a winner is declared. Mary Peltola, who served in Congress from 2022 to 2025 after becoming the first Alaska Native woman elected to the U.S. House, announced her Senate challenge to Sullivan in January 2026.
Timeline
2022: Peltola elected as the first Alaska Native woman to the U.S. House.
2024: Peltola lost her re-election bid to Nick Begich.
January 2026: Peltola announced her Senate challenge to Dan Sullivan.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Race remained undecided with votes still being counted.
Political Context
Peltola's Senate bid follows her 2022 election as Alaska's first Alaska Native woman in the U.S. House, a win she later lost in 2024 to Nick Begich. Her current challenge tests whether her earlier statewide support carries into a Senate contest against an incumbent.
Voters should expect final results to take several weeks because ranked-choice tabulation continues until a candidate exceeds 50% of first-choice votes. Until then, the outcome of this Senate contest remains uncertain for Alaska residents.
The takeaway
Ranked-choice counting can extend close races for weeks, so readers should follow official results as they update rather than relying on early totals.
Further reading
For broader background, see more Elections coverage on how voting systems shape outcomes.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Economic Times.
