Peltola leads Sullivan in early Anchorage count

Democrat Mary Peltola held a lead over Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan in preliminary results released Tuesday evening. As of 8:40 p.m., Peltola had secured 35,324 votes, or 54.1 percent, among 65,588 ballots counted. Sullivan trailed with 27,940 votes, representing 42.8 percent of the total. Only 45 of the state's 401 precincts had reported figures by that time.

The race features a third candidate, Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg. He collected 1,005 votes, or 1.5 percent, in the initial count. Gerald Heikes, a Republican from Palmer, placed fourth with 843 votes, or 1.3 percent. These early figures reflect only first-choice rankings. Voters are permitted to rank all candidates in order of preference.

Because no candidate has yet secured a majority of first-choice votes, the election will proceed to a ranked choice tabulation. This process is scheduled for Nov. 18. During this phase, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their ballots are redistributed to the next preference listed. This cycle repeats until one candidate commands more than 50 percent of the vote. State officials will certify the final results on Nov. 25.

Legal uncertainty hangs over the certification process. The Trump administration sued the Alaska Division of Elections last month. The suit sought to block certification if the incumbent lost narrowly due to voter confusion from the namesake challenger. A federal judge dismissed the case on Sunday, citing a lack of legal foundation. The government plans to appeal that decision.

State and federal investigators are also examining the candidacy of the Petersburg-based Sullivan. Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered state probes, and the FBI joined in. These inquiries look into reports that Democratic operatives helped recruit the challenger. The Peltola campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have denied involvement. Dan J. Sullivan says he ran independently.

Sen. Sullivan addressed reporters Tuesday after voting at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage. He stated he would accept the outcome once every legal vote is counted and certified. He suggested the namesake challenger might be in the Bahamas or hiding. President Trump, meanwhile, hinted on social media that the challenger may have been kidnapped by Democratic lawyers without providing evidence.

The campaign has generated record financial activity. Peltola's campaign raised nearly $37 million and spent $32.8 million. Sullivan's campaign raised $11.6 million and spent $10.8 million. Independent groups spent more than $100 million, including $43 million against Peltola and $40 million against Sullivan. Political groups also spent over $2 million on ads supporting Heikes to potentially alter the ranked choice outcome.