Alaska Senate Primary Results Move Democrats Closer to the Majority

Incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola advanced to Alaska’s November general election for the U.S. Senate, moving the Democrats closer to flipping the seat.

In Tuesday’s primary, Peltola captured 48% of the vote, with Sullivan receiving 42.8% of the vote, with 80% of votes counted, according to the Associated Press. All other candidates received less than 3% of the vote.

The two have advanced from the open primary system. According to Alaska’s election system, all Senate candidates must run on the same ballot in the August primary, with the top four advancing to the November general election.

Three candidates were vying for the final two spots: Republicans Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., and Gerald L. Heikes, and Democrat David B. Leslie. According to the Associated Press, Sullivan led the three candidates with 2.4% of the vote, while Leslie narrowly led Heikes by 23 votes, as of Wednesday morning.

In November, voters will then use ranked-choice voting to determine the winner, with candidates eliminated in rounds until one candidate receives a majority.

The Democratic Party sees the November election as a chance to flip one of the four Senate seats in order for the party to regain control of the chamber in the 120th Congress.

Recent polling has shown that Peltola and Sullivan maintain a tight race with each other.

According to a New York Times-Siena University poll released in July, Sullivan narrowly led Peltola, 47%-45%.

The Cook Political Report, a trusted indicator among political staffers, rated the race as toss-up.

Another poll, Alaska Survey Research’s March survey, showed Peltola in the lead by 5%, while an April survey put her ahead by 6%.

According to Ballotpedia, a total of 16 candidates were on Tuesday nights ballot.

On the Trail

As prioritized on her website, Peltola is an advocate of lowering taxes on the middle class by raising the fee on millionaires and billionaires.

During her time in Congress, Peltola, who was first elected in a special election in 2022, was noted as an ineffective member of the lower chamber by Sullivan’s Senate campaign.

According to legislative records , Peltola voted in the state House of Representatives for House Bill 303, which would have reinstated Alaska’s state income tax.

In a statement to USA Today, Nate Adams, Sullivan campaign spokesperson, slammed Peltola for failing to get “a single bill signed into law” when she served in Congress.

“The choice is clear, and Alaskans made their choice about Mary Peltola two years ago when they fired her,” Adams added about Peltola, who lost her re-election bid in 2024.

Sullivan, on the other hand, has held his seat since 2014, after beating then incumbent Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska.

During his time in Congress, Sullivan has introduced numerous pieces of legislation and amendments, including the Saving the OOI Act of 2026, which he co-introduced with Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, in June. The legislation passed the Senate and has been sent to the House for a vote.

Sullivan has also supported legislation championed by President Donald Trump, such as the SAVE America Act and the Laken Riley Act.

Peltola and Sullivan did not respond to the Daily Signal’s request for comment.