ANCHORAGE – Alaska Republicans have denounced ranked-choice voting for years. Some now fear it could cost them in a crucial Senate race.
The Republican senator. Dan S. Sullivan is facing not only a well-known former Democratic representative. Marie Peltola in the four-way general election field, but a challenger of the same name who Republicans say could siphon votes from him in a close election.
Some GOP operatives fear senator will lose top votes to retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan Jr.. — and that supporters of his longtime rival might not rank the incumbent president at all in the state’s unusual election system, where voters can choose backup options that will be considered if no candidate gets 50% of the initial vote. Two recent polls that the simulated ranked choice tabulations showed Peltola like the winner.
Art HackneyA Sullivan ally who runs a super PAC boosting the senator, said Dan J. Sullivan “is going to get one percent of the vote” and warned that it could be “potentially” “significant in terms of impact” on the outcome of the race.
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