Peltola widens narrow Alaska Senate lead over Sullivan as counting continues

Mary Peltola has widened her lead over Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan in Alaska’s unsettled Senate race, strengthening her position as more ballots are counted. The outcome matters because Alaska’s ranked-choice system could determine the winner if no candidate receives more than half of first-choice votes.

As of Tuesday midday ET, Peltola had 106,321 votes, or 48.6%, to Sullivan’s 103,804, or 47.5%, a lead of 2,517. About three-quarters of the expected vote had been counted, with early, absentee and questioned ballots outstanding; the official ranked-choice tabulation is scheduled for 18 November, with certification due on 25 November. Republican Gerald Heikes and independent Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. were on 2.2% and 1.7%, respectively, and the latter’s candidacy is under investigation amid allegations it was intended to draw votes from the incumbent.