Alaska uses ranked-choice voting in its general elections, so a candidate wins outright only by taking more than 50% of first-choice votes. If no one clears that bar in the 2026 US Senate race, the state will run a ranked-choice tabulation on November 18, eliminating the last-place candidates round by round until someone has a majority. That is why Alaska’s result can come days or even weeks after the rest of the country.
The Senate contest between Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola is one of the most closely watched of the midterms, and The Washington Post reported that its outcome could take more than two weeks to settle.
How Alaska’s top-four system works
Alaska’s system, approved by voters in 2020, has two stages. All candidates run in a single open primary, and the top four vote-getters advance to the general election regardless of party. In November, voters can rank those four in order of preference. Ranking more than one is optional.
| 2026 Senate general election candidate | Party | Aug. 18 primary share |
|---|---|---|
| Mary Peltola | Democratic | 49.5% |
| Dan Sullivan (incumbent) | Republican | 41.4% |
| Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. | Filed as Republican | 2.5% |
| Gerald L. Heikes | Republican | 1.1% |
Primary shares are from the official top-four primary count. Note that two candidates share the Sullivan surname, so voters were urged to check names carefully on the ballot.
How the ranked-choice rounds are counted
- Round one: every ballot counts for its first choice. A candidate with more than 50% of these votes wins immediately.
- Elimination: if no one has a majority, the candidate in last place is removed.
- Transfer: ballots that had the eliminated candidate first now count for their next-ranked candidate who is still in the race.
- Repeat: the process continues until one candidate has more than half of the ballots still active.
A ballot that does not rank any of the remaining candidates is called exhausted and drops out of later rounds. This is why the winner needs a majority of active ballots in the final round, not necessarily a majority of every ballot cast.
Key dates for Alaska’s 2026 results
- Nov. 3: Election Day. Mailed ballots had to be postmarked by this date.
- After Nov. 3: election workers keep counting absentee and mailed ballots that arrive within the state’s legal window.
- Nov. 18: ranked-choice tabulation for any race where no candidate passed 50%.
- Nov. 25: target date for state certification of results.
Alaska’s Division of Elections publishes unofficial counts and the round-by-round tabulation on its official results website. Alaska Public Media’s general election guide lists the same dates.
Why it matters beyond Alaska
Ranked-choice counting can change the leader. A candidate who is ahead after round one can lose if most transferred ballots go to the opponent. In a close race, the small share held by the third- and fourth-place candidates may decide the seat.
Maine is the other state that uses ranked-choice voting for federal general elections. Alaska voters also faced Ballot Measure 2 this year, which proposed repealing the 2020 system and returning to closed party primaries; check the Division of Elections site for its certified outcome. For more on what happens after the count, read when the new Congress takes office, our guide to recount rules by state and earlier coverage of the Sullivan–Peltola campaign.
Frequently asked questions
When will the Alaska Senate race be called?
If a candidate passes 50% of first-choice votes once all ballots are counted, the race can be called before Nov. 18. Otherwise, the result depends on the Nov. 18 ranked-choice tabulation, with certification targeted for Nov. 25.
Do I have to rank every candidate?
No. Voters can rank one, some or all candidates. Ranking more candidates only matters if your top choices are eliminated.
Can ranking a second choice hurt my first choice?
No. Your ballot moves to your second choice only after your first choice has been eliminated.
Which other states use ranked-choice voting?
Maine uses it for federal general elections. Several cities, including New York City for its primaries, use it for local races.
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