Alaska Senate race hangs while Democrats sweep Congress

Voters in Anchorage and across the state went to the polls Tuesday between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., casting ballots in a midterm election that has delivered a sweeping national victory for Democrats while leaving Alaska's own Senate race in a state of uncertainty. The state's single U.S. House seat is also on the ballot, alongside an open gubernatorial race and various local offices.

According to Ballotpedia, the outcome of the U.S. Senate race in Alaska was unclear on Wednesday, one day after Democrats scored a sweeping victory in the U.S. midterm elections. The race features incumbent Republican Dan S. Sullivan, who is running for re-election. Parties on the ballot for this contest include the Democratic, Libertarian, No Party Affiliation, Republican, and Undeclared choices.

Because of an unusual voting system and a legal challenge by the Trump administration, it could be weeks until a final result is known in the Senate race, according to Reuters. This delay contrasts sharply with the speed of calls in other parts of the country, where the partisan tide turned decisively against the president's party.

In the state's open gubernatorial race, there was no incumbent running for the office. The candidates competed under the Democratic, Nonpartisan, and Republican labels. Voters in Anchorage also decided on state and local measures that vary by county, contributing to a full slate of choices on the ballot.

Nationally, the election results mark a fundamental reshaping of power in Washington. Democrats have won control of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. According to Ballotpedia data from the early morning of Wednesday, Democrats had won 20 of the 35 Senate races with two still uncalled, securing a net gain of seven seats. In the House, Democrats had won 228 seats with 69 remaining uncalled, a net gain of 27 seats.

The Associated Press reports that voters rejected the president's party for the promise of something different, fueled by dissatisfaction with the economy and the war with Iran. The AP Voter Poll indicated that about six in 10 voters disapprove of how President Donald Trump is handling the presidency. This widespread dissatisfaction helped drive a Democratic surge that swept the party into control of Congress.

Democrats are now poised to implement a 100-day agenda focused on lowering the costs of gas, groceries, and other goods. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become the first Black speaker of the House, stated that his party will work hard to deliver on the dramatic change voters requested. The new majority in the Senate will also provide a stronger check on presidential appointments and policy.

President Trump held a press event Wednesday at the White House, focusing on the construction of a new ballroom rather than the election results. He told reporters that he had not been on the ballot and suggested that voters simply did not like the Republican candidates. The Associated Press noted that Trump used a version of the phrase 'my name wasn't on the ballot' in at least 40 instances during his campaign rallies.

Vice President JD Vance publicly broke from the president's defense of the Iran war, blaming the conflict for the Republican losses. Vance stated in a social media post that if losing the Senate for the next six years was worth the war, then that argument could be made. The AP Voter Poll found that about six in 10 voters said the U.S. made the wrong decision in taking military action against Iran.

For Alaska, the uncertainty in the Senate race means that the state's representation in Washington may not be fully settled for some time. Meanwhile, the Democratic control of both chambers sets the stage for a divided government, where Congress is likely to reassert itself as a coequal branch ready to challenge the executive. The new Congress will be sworn in on January 3, 2027.

In the House, the Democratic majority is well past the 218 seats needed for control. In the Senate, Democrats hold at least 54 of the 100 seats. These margins provide the new leadership with room to maneuver on key legislative priorities, including oversight of the executive branch and potential investigations into the administration.