Peltola extends lead over Sullivan in Alaska Senate race
The gist
Democrat Mary Peltola led Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan by 2,517 votes of 219,342 counted in Alaska's Senate race.
The race stays uncalled until ranked-choice tabulation, possibly not until Nov 18.
How it unfolded
- Oct 9, 2026 -10, 2026An InsiderAdvantage poll of 1,200 likely voters showed Peltola at 48.2% to Sullivan's 42.6% in the first round, and 50.1% to 48% in the ranked-choice final round.
- Oct 20, 2026Data for Progress polling showed Peltola leading first-choice votes 47% to 44%, with Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. at 4% and Heikes at 1%; its ranked-choice simulation had Peltola ahead 51% to 49%.
- Nov 3, 2026On Election Day, with more than three-quarters of precincts reporting, Sullivan took a slight lead: 48.5% to Peltola's 47.5%, with Dan J. Sullivan at 1.7%.
Key terms
- ranked-choice tabulation
- A voting system where voters rank candidates and the lowest-ranked are eliminated round by round until one winner remains.
- spoiler
- Candidates in an election who cannot win but draw votes away from a stronger contender, potentially changing the outcome.
- Lower 48
- The 48 adjoining U.S. states plus D.C., excluding Alaska, Hawaii and offshore territories.
Source: Wikipedia