Alaska, Mississippi Senate races separated by razor-thin vote margins

The US Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi remain too close to call days after the midterm election, with votes still being counted in both states. The outcomes could affect which party controls the Senate, while Alaska’s contest has drawn particular scrutiny over a second candidate named Dan Sullivan and the state’s ranked-choice voting system.

In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom leads Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by 1,138 votes, with 95.6% counted; officials are also awaiting 3,600 mail-in ballots, and NBC’s Decision Desk estimates 45,000 ballots remain. In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola leads Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan by fewer than 700 votes, while about a quarter of ballots remain uncounted. The other Dan Sullivan has received 3,600 votes, but those votes are not automatically transferred to the incumbent: Alaska’s ranked-choice system redirects them only if that candidate is eliminated and voters listed Sullivan as their second choice. Mississippi has no formal recount process, and both campaigns are preparing for the remaining count.