Dan Sullivan overtakes Mary Peltola in Alaska Senate race
Incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan has overtaken Mary Peltola by 2,470 votes in the Alaska U.S. Senate race as 69.58% of precincts report, according to Alaska’s News Source. The shift comes after an initial batch of results showed Peltola holding a 6,400-vote lead. Sullivan now holds 97,411 votes to Peltola’s 94,941, with 200,467 total ballots counted so far.
The tightening race in Alaska arrives as more states move toward Democratic control. The Associated Press has called several key contests, signaling a potential change in congressional leadership. While the Senate race in Alaska remains highly contested, the results in other swing states have already begun to define the national outcome.
Sullivan erases Peltola lead in volatile Senate contest
The momentum in the Senate race has fluctuated significantly throughout Tuesday night. Early indications from Alaska’s News Source showed Democrat Mary Peltola leading Republican Dan Sullivan by 54.1% to 42.8%. However, subsequent batches of votes have steadily favored Republican candidates.
The Department of Justice takes all allegations of election-related misconduct in Alaska, including potential ballot fraud, seriously. We are closely monitoring reports of alleged misconduct and reviewing any credible allegations to determine whether further action is warranted.
At 9:50 p.m., the margin between the two candidates had shrunk to just 252 votes, with Peltola holding 78,961 to Sullivan’s 78,709. By 10:30 p.m., Sullivan had successfully reclaimed the lead. The presence of a second candidate, Dan J. Sullivan from Petersburg, who has received 3,303 votes, adds a layer of complexity to the tallying process.
Senator Dan Sullivan addressed supporters at an Anchorage election night party, dismissing predictions of a national “blue wave.” He claimed that preliminary results in Alaska showed a strong Republican turnout, stating, “We all know the great state of Alaska is different. Lower 48 — blue wave, but we’re different.”
Democrats secure control of both congressional chambers
While Alaska remains a focal point, the Associated Press reports that Democrats have officially won control of both the House and the Senate. This shift follows several decisive wins in swing states that were previously considered toss-ups by the Cook Political Report.
The Democrats flipped key Senate seats in Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, Maine, and Texas, according to reports. In Ohio, Sherrod Brown won the Senate race, while in Texas, Gina Hinojosa won a gubernatorial race, becoming the state’s first Democratic governor in over three decades. These victories have eroded the Republican path to maintaining a majority.
| State | Status / Result | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | Democratic Win (Mark Warner) | Associated Press |
| Iowa | Democratic Win | Associated Press |
| Kansas | Democratic Win | Associated Press |
| Ohio | Democratic Win (Sherrod Brown) | Associated Press |
| Texas | Democratic Win | New Yorker |
| Maine | Democratic Win (Susan Collins lost) | NBC / Associated Press |
Begich and Kreiss-Tomkins lead in local races
The competitive nature of the night extends to Alaska’s other major contests. In the U.S. House race, Republican incumbent Nick Begich III has retaken the lead. He currently holds 49% of the vote, placing him ahead of nonpartisan candidate Bill Hill, who holds 41%. This follows an earlier report from Alaska’s News Source where Hill led by over 2,000 votes.
Justice Department monitors reports of election misconduct
As results pour in, the U.S. Department of Justice has issued a statement regarding potential irregularities. The department confirmed via social media that it has received reports of “alleged misconduct” in Alaska.
U.S. District Attorney Michael Heyman has confirmed an ongoing investigation into Dan J. Sullivan, a Petersburg resident running for the U.S. Senate. While Heyman noted that investigators are looking into several theories to determine if a crime was committed, he stated that no criminal charges have been filed at this time.
Measure 2 fails to overturn ranked choice system
The retention of ranked-choice voting ensures that Alaska’s unique electoral mechanics will remain in place for future cycles, even as the state’s political leadership faces potential shifts in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The finality of the national congressional shift rests on the remaining tallies in Alaska, where the margin in the Senate race continues to change as more ballots are processed.