In statewide races for political office, updated Nov. 8 general election results from the Alaska Division of Elections show narrow margins. As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, the Alaska Division of Elections was still waiting for results from two of the state’s 402 precincts. The state also received more than 43,000 absentee votes, tens of thousands of which have not yet been counted.
In the race for one of Alaska’s two U.S. Senate seats, less than 1.5 percentage points separate incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski and challenger Kelly Tshibaka, both Republicans. Early results show Tshibaka leading, with 44.26% of the more than 212,000 votes cast, followed by Murkowski, with 42.79% of votes.
Both are trailed by Democratic candidate Pat Chesbro, who received about 9.52% of votes cast, and Republican Buzz Kelley, who received 2.93% of the votes despite suspending his campaign earlier this year.
If neither Tshibaka or Murkowski have received more than 50% of all votes cast by Nov. 23, when the Alaska Division of Elections plans to have all votes counted, the lowest vote-getter — Kelley — will be eliminated from the race and his votes will be redistributed to the other candidates. The elimination process will continue until a candidate passes the 50% threshold.
In the race for Alaska’s lone U.S. House seat, incumbent Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola holds an early lead having secured about 47.2% of the more than 214,00 votes cast. She’s followed by former Republican Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who received 26.6% of votes, Republican Nick Begich III, who received 24.21% of votes and Libertarian Christ Bye, who received 1.73% of votes.
Incumbent Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s lead grew, updated election results show, from about 51.7% on election night to 52.06% on Wednesday.
Dunleavy is running for reelection alongside lieutenant governor candidate Nancy Dahlstrom. The pair is followed by Democrat Les Gara and running mate Jessica Cook, who received 23.1% of the more than 214,000 votes cast, and nonpartisan former Alaska Gov. Bill Walker and running mate Heidi Drygas, who received 20.09% of votes.
Former Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce, running as a Republican, received about 4.6% of votes cast.
His running mate, Edie Grunwald, last month suspended her campaign for lieutenant governor citing “recent circumstances” surrounding Pierce. Pierce’s former assistant alleged in an Oct. 21 lawsuit that he sexually harassed her while they worked together. Grunwald encouraged supporters to vote for Dunleavy.
The question of whether or not to hold a statewide constitutional convention also received a resounding no, with roughly 70% of Alaskans voting against a convention. The question of whether or not to hold a convention is put before Alaskans every 10 years and would open the state’s founding document up to changes made by delegates and subject to approval by voters.
Nov. 29 is the target date for the State Review Board to certify the results of the Nov. 8 election, according to the Alaska Division of Elections. Before then, the state will receive absentee ballots. The state on Nov. 23 will determine whether any candidate received more than 50% of the vote. If not, ranked choice tabulation will begin.
Preliminary election results can be found on the Alaska Division of Elections website at elections.alaska.gov.
Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.
