Alaska election results delayed by ranked voting and absentee ballots
State officials target November 18 for final tallies as the Senate and governor races remain undecided.
By Marco Graham ·
Alaska state elections officials expect to finish counting ballots for the U.S. Senate and governor races on November 18, a delay driven by the state's ranked choice voting system and the extended window for overseas mail-in ballots. The target date gives officials 15 days to process votes from voters stationed abroad, a process that can determine the outcome if no candidate secures a majority of first-choice votes.
The U.S. Senate race pits two-term Republican Senator Dan Sullivan against former Democratic Representative Mary Peltola. The contest has been marked by legal battles and disputes over ballot confusion. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit at the direction of President Donald Trump to block certification of the race if Sullivan lost, citing potential voter confusion with retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan, who appeared on the ballot. A federal judge dismissed the suit, and the department has since appealed.
A federal criminal investigation is underway following reports that Peltola campaign aides may have recruited the second Sullivan to the ballot. The New York Times reported that a former Peltola campaign manager, fired before the August primary, was involved in recruiting efforts. Text messages and campaign finance records suggest an operative was paid by a group supporting Peltola. Peltola has denied involvement, while Dan J. Sullivan has not responded to recent comment requests.
In the open governor's race, former state Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is challenging three Republican candidates. Kreiss-Tomkins is seeking to become the first Democrat elected to the office in more than two decades. His opponents include Bernadette Wilson, a business owner endorsed by President Trump, former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson, and former state Attorney General Treg Taylor. State Republican leaders urged their voters to rank the three GOP candidates to improve their collective chances of winning the seat.
President Trump has criticized the ranked voting system, calling it a scam during a rally in Wasilla last month. He also used social media to criticize Bronson and Taylor. Wilson, who was endorsed by the president, described herself as cautiously optimistic in a statement issued on Wednesday. Kreiss-Tomkins told supporters on election night that the evening was a positive moment for the state's future, positioning himself as a consensus builder to succeed term-limited Governor Mike Dunleavy.
Alaska's voting timeline is extended because the state allows up to 10 days for absentee ballots from within the United States. This period is critical for rural communities that rely on air or water transport for mail delivery. Peltola noted that the count must include votes from remote outposts, service members overseas, and college students. The last Democratic governor, Tony Knowles, served two terms from 1994 to 2002, and the state had an independent governor from 2014 to 2018.
Voters also faced a ballot measure to repeal the open primary and ranked choice voting system. This is the second time in two years that Alaskans have considered repealing the system, which they approved in 2020 and first used in 2022. Voters rejected a similar repeal effort two years ago. The outcome of this measure, like the major races, awaits the final tabulation of all ballots.
