Alaska Senate race remains undecided as Peltola extends lead over Sullivan
The 2026 U.S. Senate race in Alaska remains uncalled nearly two weeks after Election Day, with Democrat Mary Peltola holding a narrow lead over incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan. As of November 13, Peltola leads by approximately 2,500 to 5,800 votes depending on the counting stage, but neither candidate has reached the 50% threshold required for immediate victory. The outcome will likely be determined by ranked-choice tabulation beginning November 18, as officials continue to process mail and absentee ballots across the state's vast geography. A Peltola win would secure a 56-seat Democratic majority in the Senate, their largest since the late 2000s.
Key points
- Peltola leads Sullivan by 2,517 votes in first-choice counts as of November 13, though Sullivan may gain an advantage in ranked-choice redistribution calculations.
- No candidate has surpassed the 50% threshold, triggering a ranked-choice runoff scheduled to begin November 18.
- Alaska’s vast size and reliance on air and sea transport for ballots have delayed the final count, with officials prioritizing accuracy over speed.
- The race is complicated by the presence of a second candidate named Dan J. Sullivan, allegedly recruited by Democratic operatives, which prompted a dismissed lawsuit from the Trump administration.
- A Peltola victory would give Democrats 56 Senate seats, their largest majority since the late 2000s.
Background
The Alaska contest is the last major Senate race unresolved after Democrats flipped both chambers of Congress in the 2026 midterms. Previously, the Mississippi Senate race was also undecided, but Democrat Scott Colom has since extended his lead there. The delayed counting in Alaska stems from logistical challenges in transporting ballots from remote areas to Juneau, as well as the state’s ranked-choice voting system.
How outlets are covering it
USA TODAY and The Hill report that Peltola has extended her lead, with The Hill noting she effectively declared victory after Thursday’s ballot drop. The Alaska Beacon highlights that while Peltola leads in first-choice votes, Sullivan may gain an advantage in ranked-choice redistribution, though Peltola’s lead is now large enough to overcome this. BBC emphasizes the logistical challenges of counting ballots in Alaska’s vast, remote geography, noting that mail ballots can take up to 10 days to arrive. All sources agree that the race remains uncalled and will likely be decided by ranked-choice tabulation on November 18.
Why it matters
The outcome of the Alaska Senate race will determine the final margin of the Democratic majority in the Senate, potentially securing 56 seats for Democrats, their largest majority since the late 2000s. The race also highlights the complexities of ranked-choice voting and the logistical challenges of conducting elections in remote areas.
What to watch
Ranked-choice tabulation will begin on November 18, as officials continue to process mail and absentee ballots. The outcome of the race will likely be determined by the redistribution of votes from the lowest-scoring candidates to their voters' second choices.
- Alaska Senate race remains uncalled. See live results USA Today
- Peltola extends lead over Sullivan in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race as ballot-counting continues Alaska Beacon
- Peltola extends lead after new Alaska Senate ballots count The Hill
- Why midterm vote-counting is taking so long in America's largest state BBC
- Democrat Peltola widens lead over both Sullivans combined in Alaska Senate race Democracy Docket
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