Alaska Senate Vote: Peltola Lead Narrows as Late Ballots Counted

Voters in Alaska are facing a tighter race for the U.S. Senate seat as late-counted ballots shrink the margin between the two major candidates. Former Representative Mary Peltola, the Democrat, currently holds a lead over incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. The gap has narrowed following the latest tabulation of results in a state that has historically favored Republican candidates.

Unofficial data from the Alaska Division of Elections shows Peltola ahead by 3,975 votes. This figure is down from a 4,250-vote gap recorded the previous day. The change stems largely from ballots in the Mat-Su region, an area that typically votes conservative. Peltola’s team noted that Sullivan gained only 275 votes on the Democrat in this recent count. Campaign officials described this margin as smaller than they expected for a district with a strong Republican history.

Cheryl Bruce, Peltola’s campaign manager, said the latest results show the incumbent’s path to victory is becoming harder. She stated that Peltola continues to perform well in conservative areas around the state. Bruce added that voters are choosing Alaska over party loyalty. Her team also pointed to tens of thousands of outstanding early and absentee ballots from Anchorage and rural areas. They expect these remaining votes to favor Peltola and secure her position in the Senate.

Decision Desk HQ reported on Thursday morning that Peltola has received 48.57 percent of the vote. Sullivan has collected 46.98 percent. The race remains close, with many ballots still waiting for final certification. The current lead for Peltola has dropped below the approximately 4,100 votes cast for a third candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan.

The presence of this third candidate on the ballot led the Trump administration to file a lawsuit in October. The administration argued that voters might confuse the similarly named candidate with the incumbent senator. The Department of Justice sought to block the certification of results influenced by this potential confusion. They asked a federal judge to segregate ballots cast for the other Sullivan.

U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the lawsuit before Election Day. She ruled that the administration had not provided a practical plan to address its concerns without compromising voter secrecy or disrupting the election process. The administration is currently appealing the decision. Some observers alleged that Peltola’s campaign sought out the other Sullivan to act as a spoiler candidate. The Senate candidate has denied this claim. Federal and state officials are investigating the matter.

Election officials continue to process the remaining ballots. The final outcome of the contest remains under close monitoring by both parties. The narrow margins and ongoing legal scrutiny have drawn sustained attention to the count.