Washington- THE Senate race in Alaska remains unresolved Wednesday, as a contest that attracted widespread attention during the two candidates named Dan Sullivan faces a lengthy vote counting process.
Incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola face off in the race, which also has two other candidates on the ballot: independent candidate and retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan, and another Republican, Gerald Heikes.
With about three-quarters of the vote as of Wednesday morning, the race remains a toss-up, according to CBS News estimates.
The count in Alaska could expand. Alaska has a preferential voting systemwhich allows voters to rank as many candidates as they wish in order of preference. If no candidate gains support from more than 50% of voters as their first choice, the count moves to a runoff.
Ranked ranking doesn’t happen until the final ballot count, 15 days after Election Day, meaning the process could drag on for weeks if a candidate doesn’t get more than 50% of the first-place support in the ballot.
The results in Alaska will come after Democrats have already secured enough seats to take control of the Senatewinning in several states that President Trump had won by double digits in 2024. Alaska could either strengthen the Democratic majority or provide some relief for Republicans by blunting additional Democratic gains. Another senatorial contest, the Mississippi Runalso remained pending Wednesday morning.
Speaking to reporters early Wednesday morning, Peltola said, “The results are not going to come quickly.”
“But Alaskans are patient,” she said. “We just want to make sure people (in) the Lower 48 know it’s not going to take hours, it’s not going to be days, it’s going to be weeks.”
Senator Sullivan also stressed to his supporters, “We’re going to have a long night,” adding, “We’re probably going to have a long weeks.”
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