Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and former Representative Mary Peltola (D-AK) advanced from Alaska's primary election held on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. This primary featured 16 candidates under Alaska's nonpartisan system, where candidates from all parties compete on the same ballot, and the top four vote-getters move on to the general election in November.
As of 2 a.m. Eastern Time, with 50% of the votes counted, Peltola received 45.9% of the votes, while Sullivan garnered 45%. The remaining two spots for the general election were still too early to call at the time of this report. Notably, two candidates named Dan Sullivan will appear on the November ballot.
Both candidates were anticipated to proceed to the general election, and their vote shares could indicate the competitiveness of the race, which has attracted significant outside spending and may influence Senate control.
Polling prior to the primary indicated a close race, with a New York Times-Siena University poll showing Sullivan leading Peltola 47% to 45%, within the margin of error. Other polls, such as those from Alaska Survey Research, indicated Peltola slightly ahead.
The Cook Political Report has classified the race as a “toss up,” highlighting its importance for Democrats aiming to gain seats in the Senate. Peltola has distanced herself from the national Democratic Party, rejecting fundraising appeals from figures like former Vice President Kamala Harris, focusing instead on local support.
National Republicans have invested heavily in Sullivan's campaign, with the Senate Leadership Fund committing an additional $2 million, totaling $17 million in support against Peltola. Outside groups have also spent over $2 million to influence the primary outcome.
Alaska's ranked-choice voting system will be in effect for the general election, allowing voters to rank candidates by preference. If no candidate achieves a majority of first-choice votes, the lowest-performing candidate will be eliminated, and their votes redistributed until one candidate surpasses 50%.
In a unique situation, Sullivan shared the ballot with another Republican candidate named Dan Sullivan, who remained on the ballot after a court ruling against the incumbent senator's attempt to remove him.
The primary results set the stage for a closely watched race, as Peltola seeks to unseat Sullivan in a state that has historically favored Republican candidates. Peltola previously won Alaska’s at-large House seat in a special election in 2022 and secured a full term later that year before losing reelection in 2024. For Sullivan, the primary marks the start of his campaign for another six-year Senate term.