Mary Peltola likely to win Alaska Senate race as count nears end
Summary
- Democrat Mary Peltola leads Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska's still-uncalled 2026 Senate race, with more than 91% of ballots counted and her lead above 10,000 votes.
- Alaska counts ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrive by Nov. 13, and overseas ballots through Nov. 18, when any ranked-choice tabulation is scheduled.
- Peltola has passed the combined vote total of Dan Sullivan and the same-named candidate Dan J. Sullivan Jr., undercutting claims that voters were confused.
- The Justice Department's suit to block certification if Sullivan lost was dismissed and is on appeal; Alaska plans to certify the result on Nov. 25.
- A Peltola win would give Democrats a 56-44 Senate majority in 2027 and make her the first Indigenous Alaskan elected to the Senate.
Reactions
- Peltola's campaign manager, Cheryl Bruce, said the remaining ballots would put Peltola past 50% and elect her as Alaska's next senator.
- Peltola's campaign declared on X that there is no mathematical path for Sullivan to win the race.
- President Trump called the race rigged and demanded that votes for Dan J. Sullivan Jr. be given to Senator Dan Sullivan.
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who had endorsed Dan Sullivan, said the Justice Department should never have filed its lawsuit.
- Dan Sullivan's campaign said the fight is not over and it looks forward to a complete and accurate count.
- Voting rights groups called the Justice Department suit over Alaska's election embarrassing and indefensible.
Timeline newest first
The NBC News Decision Desk says Mary Peltola is likely to win Alaska's Senate race, the only 2026 Senate contest it has not projected, as counting continues.
Peltola's campaign says her lead over Dan Sullivan widened to 10,412 votes, with just over 10,000 ballots left to count, most from Anchorage and Southeast Alaska.
With 91% counted, Decision Desk HQ puts Peltola at 49.8%, leading Dan Sullivan by nearly 4 points, short of the majority needed to avoid a ranked-choice runoff.
The November 13 update added roughly 22,500 ballots; the AP estimated 96% counted and has not called the race.
Unofficial results as of November 12 showed Peltola with 125,157 first-choice votes to Dan Sullivan's 119,357, with the AP estimating 88% counted.
Alaska Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews denied Peltola's campaign access to reports on rejected mail ballots, ruling the reports are not public records.
The November 10 ballot drop expanded Peltola's lead from 637 to 2,517 first-choice votes, 48.6% to 47.5%.
A New York Times analysis of ranked-choice data found Dan Sullivan unlikely to gain more than half a percentage point if the race goes to tabulation.
State officials targeted November 18 to tabulate ranked-choice ballots, with domestic ballots accepted through November 13 and overseas ballots through November 18.
With about a quarter of Alaska's votes uncounted, Peltola led Dan Sullivan by 637 votes; the Justice Department pledged to appeal the dismissal of its suit.
With the AP estimating 96% of ballots counted, Peltola held 49.8% to Dan Sullivan's 46.1%, both below the 50% threshold.
Sources newest first
- Democrat Mary Peltola is likely to win Alaska’s Senate race, as vote counting continues
NBC News' Decision Desk says Democrat Mary Peltola is likely to win Alaska's uncalled Senate race over Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, having expanded her narrow lead with each new batch of votes. With ballots postmarked by Election Day counted through Nov. 13, 2026, and ranked-choice runoffs possible, a Peltola win would give Democrats a 56-44 Senate majority in 2027.
Mary Peltola Widens Lead to 10,412 Votes in Alaska U.S. Senate Race, Campaign Says Victory Is NearNative News Online reports that Mary Peltola's campaign says she has widened her lead over Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan to 10,412 votes in Alaska's too-close-to-call U.S. Senate race, with just over 10,000 ballots left to count. Campaign manager Cheryl Bruce says the remaining ballots will put Peltola past the 50% threshold and make her the state's next U.S. senator.
Peltola holds nearly 4-point lead on Sullivan in latest ballot dropThe Hill reports that Mary Peltola has widened her lead over Senator Dan Sullivan in Alaska's U.S. Senate race to nearly 4 points, more than 10,000 votes, with 91 percent counted and Peltola at 49.8 percent, just short of avoiding a ranked choice runoff. Her campaign declared victory on X, saying Sullivan has no mathematical path, while Decision Desk HQ has not called the race; it also projected Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins won the governorship and that the still-uncalled House race will go to a ranked choice tabulation.
Peltola leads in U.S. Senate race, nearing 50% mark with almost all ballots countedAlaska Public Media reports that Mary Peltola leads Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska's U.S. Senate race with nearly 50% of first-choice votes and most ballots counted, likely sending the race to ranked choice tabulation on November 18. The Justice Department's lawsuit seeking to block certification if Sullivan lost — over votes allegedly siphoned to a Dan J. Sullivan — now appears moot, and the AP called the governor's race for Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins while voters rejected Ballot Measure 2.
Alaska Senate race remains uncalled. See live resultsusatoday.com· 21h
USA TODAY's live-results article reports the Alaska Senate race still uncalled as of Nov. 13, 2026, with Democrat Mary Peltola holding a narrow lead over Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, 49.2% to 47%, with about 91.3% of ballots counted. Under Alaska law the ranked-choice tally — needed because no candidate has reached 50% — cannot begin until Nov. 18, and a Peltola win would give Democrats 56 Senate seats after their wave flipped both chambers.
Peltola extends lead after new Alaska Senate ballots countMary Peltola gained about 5,000 newly counted votes on 12 November 2026 and extended her lead over Senator Dan Sullivan in the last uncalled Senate race of 2026, which will go to a ranked choice tabulation on 18 November if no candidate tops 50 percent. Peltola's campaign posted on X that her victory is "all but guaranteed," while Decision Desk HQ, which has yet to call the race, reports more than 83 percent of the anticipated vote is counted and she has led since Election Day; the race has also drawn controversy, including a dismissed Trump administration lawsuit over the same-named candidate Dan J. Sullivan Jr.
Dan Sullivan timeline: How Trump’s posts tracked DOJ’s Alaska Senate fightNewsweek's timeline, built with its AI assistant Martyn, logs more than 30 dated events from April 10 to November 10 linking Trump's Truth Social posts about retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.'s Alaska Senate run to Justice Department actions, including a suit to block certification that Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed and the department is appealing. Unofficial results show Democrat Mary Peltola leading Senator Dan Sullivan with ranked-choice tabulation set for November 18 and certification targeted for November 25.
Court denies Peltola campaign access to information on rejected mail ballotsA judge denied Mary Peltola's Senate campaign access to a details report on rejected mail ballots, ruling the reports aren't public records and that the Division of Elections, busy counting ballots in Alaska's still-uncalled 2026 Senate race, couldn't accommodate the request. Democracy Docket says Trump is pushing to interfere with the count to aid Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.
- Peltola leads both Sullivans combined as she appears headed to victory in Alaska contest
Democracy Docket reports that Democrat Mary Peltola, with 84% of Alaska's Senate votes tallied, leads Senator Dan Sullivan by more than 4,000 votes and both Sullivans combined by 223, and appears headed to victory under the state's ranked-choice system. Sullivan's campaign says the fight is not over with tens of thousands of ballots left, while President Trump, whose DOJ challenge is before the 9th Circuit, claims the second Sullivan was a decoy — which Peltola's campaign denies.
'About to make some history': Observers stunned as new Alaska numbers sink Trump's theoryrawstory.com· 3d
RawStory reports that Mary Peltola's lead over Senator Dan Sullivan in Alaska's Senate race has grown larger than independent Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.'s 4,027 votes, undercutting Donald Trump's argument that adding the "Fake Dan Sullivan's" ballots would hand the senator victory. With 84 percent counted, observers say Peltola may not even need ranked-choice tabulation, though the AP has not called the race.
Peltola surpasses combined Dan Sullivan votes after latest dropThe Hill reports that former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) has surpassed the combined vote total of Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and independent Dan J. Sullivan after the latest ballot drop, leading 49 percent to 47.2 percent with 84 percent of ballots counted in one of two Senate races still uncalled, the other in Mississippi, where Scott Colom (D) leads Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by more than 3,000 votes. President Trump accused Peltola's campaign of spoiling the vote with Dan J. Sullivan's inclusion, a claim she and other Democrats denied, and a federal judge dismissed a Justice Department suit seeking to block certification if Sen. Sullivan lost; Peltola's campaign manager says Sullivan has no viable path to reelection.
Mary Peltola makes Alaska vote breakthrough against Dan SullivanDemocrat Mary Peltola holds her largest lead yet over Senator Dan Sullivan in Alaska's tight Senate race, with 4,250 votes more than Sullivan and more than the disputed second candidate Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. drew. Trump calls the race rigged, while Peltola's campaign is suing for records of rejected absentee ballots.
Peltola and JKT strengthen leads in latest Alaska election resultsAlaska Public Media reports that Mary Peltola has widened her Senate lead over Dan Sullivan to 49% to 47.2% as votes are counted, while Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins holds a large first-choice lead in the governor's race. The Trump administration has sued to block certification if Sullivan loses, and Trump falsely claimed Sullivan had won.
Peltola widens narrow Alaska Senate lead over Sullivan as counting continuesFox News reports that Alaska's Senate race between Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola remains too close to call, with Monday's ballot drop widening Peltola's lead to 2,517 first-choice votes and official ranked-choice tabulation set for Nov. 18. The article covers the "Decoy Dan" candidacy of independent Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. under investigation by Governor Mike Dunleavy, Cheryl Bruce's forecast that Peltola will win once all votes are counted, Democrats' 54-44 Senate edge, and other Alaska races including Ballot Measure 2's trailing repeal effort.
Peltola expands lead over Sullivan in Alaska Senate contestThe Hill reports that Mary Peltola has widened her lead over Sen. Dan Sullivan in Alaska's Senate count to 2,517 first-choice votes, up from 637, with tallying expected to continue for days and a runoff possible under ranked-choice rules. The race drew a spoiler candidate sharing Sullivan's name, whose presence prompted a Justice Department suit later dismissed, while President Trump, in a Truth Social post, called the vote "rigged" and demanded votes for "the Fake Dan Sullivan" go to the real one.
Peltola’s Campaign Sues to Reveal the Names of Rejected Absentee Voterswashingtonsun.com· 7d
The Washington Sun reports that Mary Peltola's Senate campaign is suing the Alaska Division of Elections and state officials to obtain the names of voters whose absentee ballots were rejected, after the state denied an October records request, in an effort to learn why specific ballots were denied. Peltola narrowly leads incumbent Dan Sullivan four days after polls closed, with results unlikely to be called soon and certification expected later in November.
- Peltola campaign sues Alaska over rejected absentee ballot records
Mary Peltola's campaign is suing Alaska for access to records of rejected absentee ballots, saying it was denied the records despite repeated requests and cannot ensure its voters' ballots were counted. Decision Desk HQ puts her just over 600 votes ahead of Senator Dan Sullivan with about 30 percent outstanding, and no winner has been projected.
Peltola campaign sues Alaska for information on rejected mail ballotsMary Peltola's campaign sued Alaska's elections division the Friday after the 2026 midterms for records on rejected absentee ballots in a Senate race she led by 600 votes, saying the state's refusal violates Alaska's open records law. The article also covers President Donald Trump's demands that votes for the similarly named independent candidate go to Senator Dan Sullivan — which Democracy Docket calls dangerous — and a federal court's dismissal of the Justice Department's suit to block certification if Sullivan narrowly lost.
New data suggests Peltola likely to win Alaska, voters not confused by 2 Dan SullivansA Democracy Docket article on the 2024 Alaska Senate count reports a New York Times analysis suggesting Mary Peltola, who led by roughly 600 ballots at 48.2%, will win — picking up most votes from the similarly named Daniel J. Sullivan, so voters apparently weren't confused. Both campaigns released dueling path-to-victory memos, and a federal judge rejected a DOJ suit seeking to block certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan lost.
In Alaska, Ranked-Choice Ballots Are Unlikely to Be Enough for Dan SullivanA New York Times analysis by Christine Zhang and Luke Vrotsos finds Senator Dan Sullivan unlikely to gain enough from Alaska's ranked-choice tabulation, with Mary Peltola leading by less than a point and expected to extend her lead as mail votes are counted. President Trump has demanded the ballots cast for Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. be given to the real Sullivan and ordered a Justice Department investigation into Peltola's campaign.
Alaskans are waiting for more votes in Senate and governor's races. Both could go to ranked tabulationsAn Associated Press report says Alaskans were waiting on 4 November 2026 for results in the Senate race between Republican Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola and an open governor's seat, with ranked tabulation possible and officials targeting 18 November to finish counting. The Justice Department, suing at Trump's direction to block certification if Sullivan loses, saw its case dismissed but appealed, while a repeal of Alaska's ranked vote system was too early to call.
What’s delaying the US Senate election results in Mississippi and Alaska?An Al Jazeera explainer, with The Associated Press, sets out why the Mississippi and Alaska US Senate races remain undecided days after the 2026 midterms, in which Democrats regained control of both chambers of Congress. In Mississippi, where Scott Colom led Cindy Hyde-Smith by 1,138 votes, 10 days are allowed for provisional ballots and there is no automatic recount; Alaska's ranked-choice count, with Mary Peltola ahead of Dan Sullivan by 637 votes, is due on November 18, and the Justice Department, whose suit against certification was dismissed, has pledged to appeal.
What’s Next in the Alaska Senate Race Between Mary Peltola and Dan Sullivan?A New York Times explainer says about a quarter of the vote in Alaska's Senate race between Dan Sullivan and Mary Peltola remains uncounted, with the Republican incumbent slightly ahead in reported ballots that favored him on Election Day. The Times calls Sullivan's lead fragile, expects the late mail vote to lean toward Peltola, and notes a ranked-choice tabulation could begin Nov. 18 if neither crosses 50 percent.
Alaska U.S. Senate Election Live Results 2026The Associated Press's live results page tracks the 2026 Alaska U.S. Senate race, where Mary Peltola led incumbent Dan Sullivan 49.8% to 46.1% with the AP estimating 96% of votes counted, both below the 50% threshold needed to avoid ranked choice voting. It cites a New York Times report that Peltola's campaign was involved in recruiting the other Daniel J. Sullivan, and AP Voter Poll findings that young voters and Latinos shifted toward Democrats in the midterms.
Background newest first
Alaska voters stick with ranked-choice voting, again
politico.com· 4h
Alaska voters kept ranked-choice voting for a second straight election, rejecting a Trump-backed ballot measure to end it, while Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins won the governor's race with Lisa Murkowski's endorsement, per the Associated Press. Criticism from Trump and Republicans intensified after a second Dan Sullivan ran against the senator, and Trump called the system "disastrous, and very fraudulent."
Alaskans vote in support of ranked-choice voting for third timeDemocracy Docket reports that Alaska voters rejected a ballot measure to repeal the state's ranked-choice voting and open primary systems for a second time, with 53.5% opposing the repeal as of the Sunday before the article. President Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche claimed the system enabled a Democratic scheme to confuse voters in the Senate race, while FairVote's Meredith Sumpter said ranked-choice voting "is here to stay," and Mary Peltola is forecast to win the race against Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Just for Skeets and Giggles (11.14.26)substack.com· 4h
In a news roundup, Jay Kuo surveys the week after the 2026 election: votes still being counted, Democrats at 56 Senate seats, Lauren Boebert's loss in Colorado, and Trump's stalled press secretary search. He also covers Jensen Huang's Nvidia resignation, an FAA grounding that stranded tens of thousands, Stephen Miller's elevation to chief of staff, and a runaway corgi race.
Democrat wins Alaska governor’s seat for first time in nearly 30 yearstheguardian.com· 4h
The Guardian reports that Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, a former state legislator, won Alaska's governorship in the 2026 midterms, defeating three Republicans including a Trump-backed candidate — the state's first Democratic governor since 1998. The Associated Press called the race ten days after polls closed; he won over 50% of first-choice votes in Alaska's ranked-choice system, and Democrats also took governorships in states such as Texas, Iowa, Ohio and Georgia.
Two Dan Sullivans Couldn’t Sour Alaska on Ranked-Choice VotingAlaska voters rejected Ballot Measure 2, the second time in two years they have declined to scrap ranked-choice voting, leaving the state's open primaries and ranked-choice general elections intact. The article also follows the unresolved Senate race between Mary Peltola and Senator Dan Sullivan, where a similarly named candidate, retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., raised voter-confusion concerns.
Kirsten Gillibrand is dreaming of a Democratic supermajorityKirsten Gillibrand, preparing for a second term as Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chair, says Democrats who won at least 55 Senate seats in 2026, flipping Iowa, South Carolina, Kansas, and North Carolina, could add seven more in 2028 to reach a filibuster-proof 60-seat supermajority, targeting Wisconsin and states Trump won three times. The article also notes progressive criticism of Chuck Schumer's primary strategy and Sherrod Brown's 2028 Ohio defense.
Alaska voters aren't ditching ranked choice voting, top-four primariesnpr.org· 8h
NPR reports that Alaska voters rejected a ballot measure to repeal the state's nonpartisan top-four primary and ranked choice voting, the third time they have turned back such an effort since first approving the system in 2020. The 2026 Senate race drew scrutiny over two candidates named Dan Sullivan and appears headed to a ranked-choice tabulation.
Democrat wins Alaska governor race without ranked-choice runoffA Newsweek article reports that Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins won Alaska's governor race outright with 50.8 percent of the vote, defeating three Republicans and avoiding a ranked-choice runoff to replace term-limited Governor Mike Dunleavy. It says Democrats flipped both chambers of Congress and several governors' mansions in the 2026 midterms, which Newsweek attributes to voters turning on President Trump over the cost of living and the war in Iran.
Well, that was frightening.Robert B. Hubbell's November 14, 2026 newsletter leads with the nationwide air traffic shutdown and the press conference at which Sean Duffy and Markwayne Mullin blamed Congress for underfunding FAA modernization—despite the last FAA funding, the Big Beautiful Bill, having passed without bipartisan support—while never explaining the shutdown's cause. He also reports Mary Peltola leading Dan Sullivan by 10,412 votes in Alaska, Lauren Boebert's defeat in Colorado, Democratic forecasts of a 56-seat Senate and 260-seat House majority, debate over the BAAJA permitting bill, and readers' pro-democracy protests across the country.
Democrat flips Alaska governor's mansion after Trump-backed GOP infightingFox News reports that Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins won Alaska's gubernatorial election, defeating Trump-endorsed Republican Bernadette Wilson to become the state's first Democratic governor since 1998. The victory came after Republican infighting, with Trump criticizing GOP rivals Dave Bronson and Treg Taylor for dividing conservative voters in a ranked-choice contest.
We Filed an Amicus Brief Supporting Voters' Motion to Summarily End DOJ's 9th Circuit Appeal Seeking to Block Certification of Alaska's U.S. Senate Race #ELBelectionlawblog.org· 18h
A post on the Election Law Blog announces a proposed amicus brief, filed with lawyers from Manatt, supporting Common Cause and the League of Women Voters' motion for summary affirmance to end the Justice Department's Ninth Circuit appeal seeking to block certification of Alaska's U.S. Senate race while ballots are still being tabulated. The brief calls the federal government's suit—which rests on the word "integrity" in a registration statute's preamble—preposterous and untimely under laches, quotes election law experts calling it meritless and "uniquely embarrassing," and urges the court to affirm swiftly that Alaska alone certifies its winners.
Democrat wins Alaska governor race, in setback for GOP scheme to steal Senate seatA Democracy Docket article reports that Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is projected to win Alaska's governor race, which the Associated Press says would make him the state's first Democratic governor in more than two decades. It covers the still-uncalled Senate race, where Mary Peltola leads Sen. Dan Sullivan by 5,800 votes amid a certification fight: Trump has called for votes against Peltola to go to Sullivan, the Justice Department's lawsuit over certification was dismissed but is on appeal, and Governor Mike Dunleavy has refused to commit to certifying a Peltola win, saying that if illegal acts are found, "that may in fact impact whether somebody is seated in the U.S. Senate."
Scott Colom wins Mississippi Senate seat. Nvidia CEO resigns amid Chinese spy affair. Schumer challenged for Majority Leader.The Big Picture reports Scott Colom's Mississippi Senate win over Cindy Hyde-Smith — making him the state's first Black U.S. Senator since 1881 and the Democrats' eighth seat flip — alongside Mary Peltola's widening lead in Alaska's still-uncalled race and Jensen Huang's resignation as Nvidia CEO over an affair with an alleged Chinese spy. It quotes Colom crediting civil rights heroes in his victory speech, notes he cites Hyde-Smith's blocking of his judicial nomination as a reason he ran, says a Peltola win would give Democrats a 56-44 majority, and its headline says Chuck Schumer was challenged for Majority Leader.
Schumer's leadership rival reveals major Senate rule change he'd pursue if electedA Fox News article reports that Sen. Chris Van Hollen is challenging Chuck Schumer for leadership of Senate Democrats and says he would pursue ending the filibuster, which he calls anti-democratic, letting 51 senators pass legislation. Van Hollen frames his challenge as a response to voters' calls for change after the 2026 midterms, while Schumer says he has the votes to remain leader in the secret ballot contest expected in early December 2026, needing 28 votes or 29 if Democrats win Alaska.
Chuck Schumer's victory trapNewsweek senior editor Shane Croucher examines the paradox that, after Chuck Schumer's Democrats won at least 55 Senate seats — ending a GOP trifecta and flipping Texas — Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen is challenging his leadership anyway, calling the result a historic blue tsunami. Commenters on the piece are harsher, with lazlo grelb calling Schumer a two-time loser out of touch with voters, and BillySmith arguing the Democrats have already wasted the win.
Capitol agenda: Van Hollen's challenge puts Senate Dems in tough spotPOLITICO's Inside Congress newsletter reports that Sen. Chris Van Hollen's official challenge to Chuck Schumer for Senate Democratic leader has put the caucus in a divisive fight despite its bigger-than-expected November 2026 majority, with Bernie Sanders backing Van Hollen while Schumer claims he has the votes. It also covers committee contests — Maxine Waters facing Sean Casten, Virginia Democrats backing Bobby Scott — plus Jack Smith's fight against Bill Hagerty's disbarment bid and Ted Cruz's postponed AI briefing.
Rep.-elect Don Leonard Says Senior Dems Threatened to Make His Life “Living Hell” over Jeffries Votedemocracynow.org· 2d
Democracy Now!'s November 12, 2026, headlines lead with Rep.-elect Don Leonard's post that senior House Democrats threatened to make his life a "living hell" after he set conditions for backing Hakeem Jeffries for speaker, as 11 Democrats missed an impeachment vote on Pete Hegseth. The headlines also cover Scott Colom's historic Mississippi Senate win, the Nasser Hospital strike in Gaza that killed surgeon Dr. Rizk Abu Shaira, Jensen Huang's resignation from Nvidia amid reports of a Chinese spy affair, Trump's Veterans Day defense of attacks on Iran and Venezuela, and a general strike in Spain over housing costs.
History has a warning for the new Democratic majorityvox.com· 3d
Caitlin Dewey's Vox newsletter piece argues that after the Democrats' blue wave — which she says was the largest electoral landslide in more than 50 years — the party's real work has only begun. She writes that Democrats must pick leaders before confronting Trump, who told Fox News they are "really not in control."
Trump questions midterm election results after previously accepting outcome - AOLaol.com· 5d
Joey Garrison's USA TODAY article, published on AOL on 9 November 2026, reports that President Trump cast doubt on the 3 November midterm results in a Truth Social post, pushing unsubstantiated accusations of rigged voting machines days after telling The New York Times he was "absolutely willing" to accept the outcome. Democrats took the House and Senate, flipping districts and winning Senate races in Texas, Kansas, and South Carolina, while election officials have raised no major concerns.
- Colom Leads Hyde-Smith in Mississippi Senate Race After Latest Vote Report
Evan Reynolds reports in a New York Times article that the Mississippi Senate race remained tight after Election Day, with the latest votes showing Democrat Scott Colom leading Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith by about 2,000 votes, though populous counties like Harrison and Hinds had not updated tallies since election night, with certification due Nov. 13. In Alaska's uncalled race, Mary Peltola led Dan Sullivan by less than a percentage point, and a Times analysis of ranked-choice ballots suggests she is on track to prevail, with the next substantial update expected the following Tuesday.
US elections 2026 live: Democrats hold nearly 100 more House seats than Republicans as blue wave continues to growThe Guardian's live blog reports a Democratic wave in the 2026 midterms, with the party holding a 253–155 House lead after flipping seats including New York's seventeenth, where Army veteran Cait Conley unseated Mike Lawler, and New Jersey's second, where mayor Zack Mullock beat Jeff Van Drew, while Nithya Raman took the Los Angeles mayoralty from Karen Bass. Donald Trump accepted the results despite his administration's months-long efforts to sow doubt about them, signed an executive order declaring his gold-decorated Oval Office "a national monument," and saw justice department official Harmeet Dhillon resign, while Ted Cruz called the Republican defeat a "Watergate-level repudiation."
After midterm rout, Trump doubles down on Alaska Senate seat schemeAfter Republicans' midterm rout, Democracy Docket reports President Trump's demand that Alaska hand Sen. Dan Sullivan all votes cast for similarly named candidate Daniel J. Sullivan, quoting his social media post calling the race's other candidates "the other slug that the Dems put on the Ballot." With Mary Peltola leading by 0.3 points, a federal judge has already rejected a suit to block certification, and the result may not be decided until November 18.
Pete Hegseth May Get Impeached Before Dems Even Take Over Congressnewrepublic.com· 9d
New Republic's live-updating midterm coverage leads with Thomas Massie's push to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, including Mike Johnson's early recess to kill the measure and Massie's planned House vote, and tracks Donald Trump's calls to prosecute Mary Peltola and sue Alaska over the Senate count. It also covers James Talarico's Texas Senate win and Chuck Grassley's 2028 seat.
2026 midterm election results live: Democrats sweep Congress. What’s next for Trump?ms.now· 10d
MS NOW's live coverage reports Democrats reclaimed the House and Senate in the 2026 midterms, flipping at least 35 House seats and seven Senate seats as Trump-backed candidates lost from Texas to Michigan. Highlights include Abdul El-Sayed becoming the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, Democrats winning statewide in Texas for the first time since 1990, Scott Colom's razor-thin Mississippi lead, and Trump blaming the Iran war for the sweep while Democrats like Jim Himes vow to cut off war funding and Hakeem Jeffries launches his speaker bid.
US-Midterms: Ein Perfekter Sieg auf fast allen Ebenentaz.de· 10d
taz.de reports Bernd Pickert's account of the 2026 US midterms as a Democratic landslide: at least 7 Senate seats, a House majority passing the Speaker's office from Mike Johnson to Hakeem Jeffries, and five governorships flipped, including Texas. Pickert judges it a clear vote against Donald Trump's politics and forecasts Trump will now become even more dangerous, while the California billionaires' tax appears headed for defeat and two Senate races, including Mississippi's, remain undecided.
Trump tells CNBC he can work with Dems on ‘many more things than people understand’cnbc.com· 10d
CNBC's live blog tracks a Democratic midterm wave on 4 November 2026 — sweeping the House and Senate, flipping five governorships including Texas and Georgia, and driving the Dow up more than 1,500 points — as President Trump tells CNBC he can work with Democrats on "many more things than people understand" while blaming the Iran war's oil prices for the losses. The blog also covers Hakeem Jeffries' speaker bid, Pete Hegseth's uncertain future, voters rejecting data center measures in 40 of 41 races, and uncalled Senate counts in Mississippi and Alaska.
2026 Senate midterm election results as Democrats win control, Schumer vows "legislative razor wire" against Trumpcbsnews.com· 10d
CBS News' live blog of the 2026 Senate midterms projects Democrats taking both chambers, with a 54-seat Senate majority built on upsets in Texas, South Carolina, Kansas, Maine, Ohio, Iowa and North Carolina. Chuck Schumer vowed "legislative razor wire" against Trump, while Mississippi and Alaska remain toss-ups and Trump, in his first public appearance since the losses, touted the new White House ballroom.
Google to turn off search for schools that don’t want students using AIwashingtonpost.com· 11d
The Washington Post's live-updates page leads with Google's announcement that AI tools including Gemini and Google search will be disabled by default on K-12 student accounts unless administrators opt in, a shift that drew outrage and a Zohran Mamdani accusation that Google is using monopoly power to force AI into schools, though Google says it is responding to parents and teachers. The page also follows the Trump administration's bid to dismiss a suit over his planned 250-foot Arlington arch, a marathoner's death from rhabdomyolysis, Alaska's slow Senate count, falling U.S. home prices, pollsters' new methods, and the College Football Playoff's first rankings.
DOJ says Trump arch’s harms to D.C. and Virginia are ‘too speculative’The Washington Post's live blog reports that the Trump administration asked a federal judge to dismiss D.C. and Virginia's suit over Trump's planned 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery, with Judge Tanya S. Chutkan already weighing a halt. It also covers a marathoner's rhabdo death, the Alaska Senate count, pollster changes, Redfin's first median home-price drop in three years, Google disabling AI by default on K-12 accounts, and the College Football Playoff rankings.
Can Dems Actually Win the Senate? Here's How the Key Races Are Breakingrollingstone.com· 11d
A Rolling Stone guide to the 2026 midterms explains that Democrats need a net four seats to take the Senate from Republicans' 53-47 majority, with 13 of the 35 seats up this year competitive and nine of those currently in GOP hands. The Associated Press has called Georgia for Jon Ossoff, New Hampshire for Chris Pappas, and North Carolina for Roy Cooper, while the writers say signs point to a strong Democratic showing, with narrow polling leads in close races including Texas, Ohio, and Maine.
Trump to stop $4 billion in annual funding for Israeli arms purchasesThe Washington Post live blog reports President Trump's announcement that the United States will cut off $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel at year's end — aid he called unneeded — after talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has instead pushed for deeper military integration. The blog also tracks marathoner Rachel Apa's death from rhabdomyolysis, Alaska's ranked-choice Senate race, falling U.S. home prices, pollsters' new methods, Election Day college football rankings, and Justice Department election monitors.
Inside the Decision Desk: When will we know Senate and House control?NBC News' Decision Desk team explains when the 2026 midterms will reveal Senate and House control, writing that Democrats are heavily favored in House races and a number of key Senate contests but that timing depends on both how states count votes and how close the races run. They flag slow-counting Maine and Alaska, whose ranked choice tabulations could delay a call by weeks, and point to Kentucky's 6th District and Florida's toss-up seats as early signals.
Alaska Election Results 2026: Live UpdatesNPR's live Alaska Election Results 2026 page lists candidates for governor (including Dave Bronson, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Treg Taylor, and Bernadette Wilson), Senate (with incumbent Dan Sullivan), and the District 1 House race (with incumbent Nick Begich). The Associated Press estimates 0% of votes are in in each race as of Nov. 3, 2026.
A Guide to What We’ll Know on Election Night, Hour by HourNate Cohn's guide for The New York Times walks through Election Night 2026 hour by hour, from the first poll closings at 6 p.m. in Kentucky and Indiana to the slow counts in Maine and Alaska, warning of an early "blue mirage" as Democrats' heavy early vote is counted first. He expects no quick answer on Senate or House control, with Alaska's ranked-choice result possibly not known until Nov. 18.
U.S. Senate Midterm Election Live Results 2026 - NBC NewsNBC News's live 2026 midterm results page projects Democrats winning control of the Senate with 51 seats, a net gain of 6, flipping seats in states including Texas, Ohio, Iowa, Kansas, and the Carolinas after Republicans entered with a 53-47 majority. Maine, Michigan, and several other races remain too early to call, and Democrats are also projected to take the House.
2026 midterm election results live: Senate, House updatesMS NOW's live coverage of the Nov. 3, 2026, midtimes tracks voting disruptions — ballot scanner problems in Westchester County, delays in North Carolina counties, and extended hours in Pennsylvania precincts — alongside toss-up Senate races in Alaska, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Texas that could decide chamber control. Its Voter Poll finds Donald Trump with a historically low 38% midterm approval and the economy the top voter issue, while abortion measures in four states, transgender restrictions in five, and roughly 1,000 Justice Department monitors at polls draw attention, and Trump told Fox News that "inflation is solved."
When Will We Know Election Outcomes? Don’t Hold Your Breath.A New York Times article by Richard Fausset explains why 2026 midterm results may take days or weeks, citing ranked-choice runoffs in Alaska and Maine, California's seven-day window for late mail ballots, and tight Senate races there and in Arizona. It notes that past delays fueled President Trump's false fraud claims, which he has revived despite no evidence of cheating.
When to Expect Midterm Results in Each State on Election NightThe New York Times offers a state-by-state guide to when midterm results will be reported on election night, explaining that timing depends on how fast states count votes and how close the races are, with 2024's counts as a benchmark. It warns that control of the House and Senate may not be known that night.
I’m watching Alaska closely
Marc Elias's Democracy Docket newsletter reports on Alaska's still-uncalled Senate race, where Trump's Justice Department sued to block certification of a Mary Peltola win, then appealed after a federal judge dismissed the case. Elias says his firm intervened for Peltola's campaign, forecasts she will win, and notes Trump has launched criminal investigations and targeted him before.
