Fastrack · Peltola Extends Lead as Alaska Senate Ballots Are Counted

Democrat Mary Peltola holds a 5,800-vote lead over Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska's Senate race. Counting continues nearly two weeks after Election Day.

125,157 votes for Peltola; 119,357 for Sullivan, with 88% counted.
91.3% of ballots counted, by USA Today's later tally.
5,490 votes for Republican Gerald Heikes; 4,199 for Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.
56% of roughly 35,000 remaining votes would give Peltola an outright win.

Why it matters: The seat could give Democrats 56 Senate seats, their largest majority since the late 2000s. The race also tests Alaska's ranked-choice system, which voters again chose to keep.

Peltola's lead now exceeds Sullivan Jr.'s total, the figure at the center of a federal suit.
Heikes and Sullivan Jr. combined hold more votes than Peltola's margin.

The story so far

123 steps · since Oct 9

Oct 9–14
Oct 146:27 PMJustice Department Sues California Over Alleged Noncitizen Mail Ballots59 sources
Oct 15–22
Oct 234:53 AMTrump Admin Moves to Block Alaska Senate Result If Sullivan Loses83 sources
Oct 23–28
Oct 2810:51 AMDemocrats Accused of Recruiting Second Dan Sullivan in Alaska76 sources
Oct 28
Oct 283:05 PMFederal Prosecutor Confirms Probe of Alleged Alaska Decoy Candidate62 sources
Oct 28–Nov 11
Nov 13Peltola Extends Lead as Alaska Senate Ballots Are CountedYou are hereLatest

How 20 sources split on this story

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Coverage by lean% of 20 sources

20 sources · 29 articles · 45% Right coverage

Where they split: The dispute is whether Sullivan Jr.'s candidacy was a recruited effort to confuse voters that tainted the result, or a lawful candidacy being used to challenge a loss.

Center coverage, 5 sources: The center sees a close, uncalled count that could cap a broader Democratic wave in Congress.

USA Today8hPeltola's lead increases in uncalled Alaska Senate race The Hill11hPeltola holds nearly 4-point lead on Sullivan in latest ballot drop IBTimes13hDemocrat Peltola Closes In On Alaska Senate Seat. She Is Already Claiming Victory.Newsweek1dMary Peltola’s Path to Winning Alaska Senate Race Outright Yahoo News9hMary Peltola nears an Alaska Senate win as Democrats eye a 56th seat

Left coverage, 6 sources: The left sees an incumbent losing ground in his own strongholds while Trump makes fraud claims without evidence.

Raw Story2hMary Peltola likely to unseat GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska: report Political Wire2hMary Peltola Is On Track to Win in Alaska NBC News3hWhy Mary Peltola is on track to win in Alaska, even if ranked choice ballots come into play Mediaite6hMajor Update in Controversial Alaska Senate Race as Polymarket Declares Peltola the Winner MSNBC9hPeltola widens lead in Alaska Senate race, now rated ‘likely Democratic’The New York Times19hAlaska Senate Race Between Dan Sullivan and Mary Peltola Still Counting Votes

Right coverage, 9 sources: The right sees a race shaped by what it calls a Decoy Dan scheme and a second recruited candidate.

The Daily Wire2dPeltola Inches Toward Victory As ‘Decoy Dan’ Drama Deepens Washington Examiner9hPeltola again claims victory in Alaska Senate race as vote count drags on Daily Mail9hDemocrat Mary Peltola declares victory against Trump-backed Dan Sullivan in Alaska's controversial Senate race with 'decoy' candidate Just the News2dAlaska continues counting U.S. Senate ballots ahead of looming deadline New York Post5hAlaska Democrat Mary Peltola nears 50%, declares victory in Senate race Newsmax10hPeltola Nears Alaska Senate Win, Dems Eye 56th Seat The Center Square1dAlaska continues counting U.S. Senate ballots ahead of looming deadline The Washington Times5hPeltola declares victory in Alaska Senate race ZeroHedge1d'Decoy Dan' Voters Ranked Peltola Over The Real Sullivan... And Her Lead Just Hit A New High

What’s next: Ranked-choice tabulation would start Nov. 18 if no candidate tops 50%. FairVote's preliminary projection showed Peltola winning the final round 50.1% to 49.9%.

The Trump administration is appealing Judge Sharon Gleason's Nov. 1 dismissal of the Justice Department suit.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered a state probe; the Justice Department opened a criminal inquiry.
Will Peltola reach 50% before ranked-choice tabulation begins?
Will state or federal investigations find wrongdoing in Sullivan Jr.'s recruitment?
Can the appeal conclude before Alaska certifies its results?