Sullivan Claims Lead in Tight Alaska Senate Race

Senator Dan Sullivan is currently in the lead in the Alaska Senate race, according to a statement from his campaign. This advantage persists despite what the campaign described as a bloodbath for Republicans in other parts of the country. The race remains too close to call officially, with both candidates claiming victory in their respective campaign events.

Election night on Tuesday was tight, with results showing Sullivan pulling slightly ahead at one point. Sullivan addressed supporters at the Hotel Captain Cook, stating that the contrast between his campaign and Mary Peltola’s campaign was clear. He told the crowd that Alaskans knew the difference, which is why his side would win the race. Peltola spoke to her own supporters on Tuesday night, declaring that the group in the room was winning the state back. Both candidates kept their claims of victory public despite the narrow margins.

The path to a final count involves several steps. Alaska accepts absentee ballots for 15 days after Election Day, provided they were postmarked by Nov. 3. Because of this window, the remaining mail-in ballots will not be fully counted for days. If neither candidate secures a majority of the vote, a ranked-choice tabulation will occur on Nov. 18. Sullivan’s campaign indicated in a press email that Sullivan would win if that ranked-choice count takes place today, though the official date is set for the 18th.

Historical context suggests Alaskans should expect a delay. The Ship Creek Group, a progressive consulting firm, noted that previous Senate races took over two weeks to resolve. In 2008, it took 15 days to call the race. In 2010, the wait was 13 days. In 2014, the Senate race was called on Nov. 12, while the Governor’s race took until Nov. 14. These precedents align with the current timeline for counting the remaining ballots.

Emails sent to both campaigns on Wednesday morning requesting interviews had not been returned as of publication. The national picture shows Democrats taking back control of the Senate and House in the Lower 48 states. However, the Alaskan contests remain in the limbo phase, with the final numbers pending the processing of late-arriving mail and the potential recount process.