The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Nov. 12, 2026
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November 11, 2026 11:35 amJUNEAU, AK –As of November 11th, with 84% of votes counted in the Alaska U.S. Senate race, neither Mary Peltola nor incumbent Dan S. Sullivan had a 50% majority. To get that 50% majority, Alaska uses ranked choice voting. Here’s how it works.
As of Wednesday morning, Democrat Peltola had a slight lead with 118,296 votes and 48.95% of the vote. Republican Dan S. Sullivan had 114,676, or 47.2%. Two other candidates have 2.2% and 1.7% first place votes.
Once all the ballots have been counted, which have to travel from the outer reaches of Alaska, if neither Peltola nor Dan S. Sullivan has 50% of the first place votes, the state’s “top 4” ranked choice system goes to work. The candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and his voters’ 2nd choices are reallocated to the remaining candidates. That process continues until one candidate achieves a 50% majority.
If ranked choice calculations are necessary, that process is expected to start November 18th.
Polling shows 84% of Alaskans find ranked choice easy to do, but the latest ballot measure to repeal it currently trails by only 4%.
We have local reporting and an Alaska ranked choice explainer video at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources
Alaska Public Media – Alaska counts ballots slowly. Here’s what to expect on Election Night and beyond.
Alaska Beacon – Peltola extends lead over Sullivan in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race as ballot-counting continues
Alaska Public Media – Peltola and JKT strengthen leads in latest Alaska election results
Alaska Daily News – Peltola’s lead over Sullivan grows, but Alaska’s Senate race is still tight
Alaska Division of Elections – Explainer Video on Ranked Choice Voting
FairVote – Fact Sheet: Alaska’s 2026 ranked choice voting elections
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – Alaska’s Ranked Choice Voting and ‘Top 4’ Open Primaries Survive Repeal Referendum – By a Whisker
Groups Taking Action:
FairVote, Alaskans for Better Elections
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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