All articles tagged with #ranked choice
Retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan advances to the Alaska U.S. Senate general to face incumbent Dan Sullivan and Rep. Mary Peltola in a ranked-choice contest, a setup that could cause voter confusion due to the two candidates named Dan Sullivan on the ballot.
With about 80% of ballots counted, Democrat Mary Peltola leads Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan 48.1% to 42.7% in Alaska’s all‑party primary, a result Democrats will tout as a favorable sign for their Senate math. But primary outcomes aren’t predictive, and the remaining votes (including many advance ballots) could shift the top four and future rankings under ranked‑choice voting. Still, Alaska’s result provides encouragement for Democrats ahead of November, though nothing is decided yet.
Billionaire Elon Musk donated $1.5 million to the Aurora Action Network, a Wisconsin-based PAC backing the repeal of AlaskaBallot Measure 2, which would end ranked-choice voting, open primaries, and certain campaign-finance laws. The repeal would restore closed partisan primaries and a one-ballot general election while removing disclosure requirements. Aurora Action Network had already funneled $1 million to the repeal campaign in July; opponents have raised more than $5 million. This is Alaska’s second attempt to overturn its voting system, following a 2024 failed initiative, and Musk’s donation could prove pivotal for fundraising and momentum.
Maine's Secretary of State’s Elections division completed ranked-choice tabulations for five June 9, 2006 primary races, naming winners in five contests (Republican Governor Bobby Charles; Democrat Governor Hannah Pingree; Democrat U.S. Congress CD2 Matthew Dunlap; Republican Senate District 4 Chad Perkins; Republican House District 58 Dexter Bridges). In ranked-choice voting, winners must achieve a majority; the recount rules allow candidates in the top three rankings of the penultimate round to file within five business days, with official results posted within 20 days of the election.
An Alaska election official disqualified Dan J. Sullivan, a same-name Republican challenger to Sen. Dan Sullivan, from the August primary, saying his candidacy appeared designed to confuse voters under ranked-choice voting. Democrats denied involvement, while the move narrows the field ahead of a general election in which incumbent Sullivan faces Mary Peltola; Dan J. Sullivan can appeal the decision.
Three of Maine’s highest-profile primaries will proceed to ranked-choice runoffs, with the outcome determined by how supporters of losing candidates allocate their backup votes, forcing candidates to court coalitions and adapt strategies ahead of the vote.
Maine’s five-way Democratic gubernatorial primary remains extremely close, with Nirav Shah leading after about half the votes were counted and rivals including Troy Jackson still competitive, setting up a ranked-choice runoff.