Who Is Running for Senate in Alaska
Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola lead a field of four on Alaska’s U.S. Senate ballot on November 3, 2026. The other two are Republicans Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and Gerald Heikes. Voters rank the four in order of preference (Ballotpedia).
Key facts
- Mary Peltola led the August 18, 2026 top-four primary with 49.54%; Dan Sullivan had 41.4%.
- The winner serves a six-year term, from January 3, 2027 to January 3, 2033.
- Through July 29, 2026, Mary Peltola had raised $18.5 million and Dan Sullivan $11.7 million (FEC).
- Alaska’s registration deadline for this election was October 4, 2026.
Candidates for U.S. Senate in Alaska, November 3, 2026
Source: Ballotpedia, United States Senate election in Alaska, 2026
Alaska Senate Primary Results
Mary Peltola finished first among 16 candidates in the August 18, 2026 primary, 13,518 votes ahead of Dan Sullivan. Alaska runs one primary for every candidate and every voter, and the top four finishers advance (Alaska Division of Elections, official results; AS 15.25.100).
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Mary Peltola (D) | 49.54% |
| Dan Sullivan (R) | 41.4% |
| Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. (R) | 2.47% |
| David Leslie (D, withdrew) | 1.11% |
| Gerald Heikes (R) | 1.05% |
Source: Alaska Division of Elections, official results printed August 31, 2026. 166,004 votes; 11 other candidates are not shown.
David Leslie, a Democrat who finished fourth, withdrew on August 31, 2026. State law fills that slot with the fifth-place finisher, so Gerald Heikes moved onto the November ballot with 1.05% of the primary vote (Ballotpedia).
Two Dan Sullivans on the Ballot
The third candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., shares the incumbent’s name. Ballotpedia describes him as a retired teacher. The Division of Elections first removed him from the primary ballot, and the Alaska Supreme Court then ruled that he had to appear on it (Ballotpedia). He received 2.47% in the primary and had raised $18,835 through July 29, according to the Federal Election Commission.
The official primary results listed the incumbent as “Sullivan, Dan S.” and the newcomer as “Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr.” (Alaska Division of Elections). Check the middle initial before you rank either one.
Sullivan and Peltola Records
Dan Sullivan was first elected to the Senate in 2014, after serving as Alaska’s attorney general and its natural resources commissioner. Mary Peltola represented Alaska’s only U.S. House seat from 2022 to 2025 and served in the Alaska House from 1999 to 2009 (Ballotpedia).
Public offices held by Dan Sullivan and Mary Peltola
Source: Ballotpedia, United States Senate election in Alaska, 2026
Dan Sullivan won his last race in 2020 over nonpartisan candidate Al Gross, 53.9% to 41.2%. Alaska’s other seat is not on the ballot this year: Senator Lisa Murkowski won it in 2022 in round 3 of the ranked count, 53.7% to 46.3% (Ballotpedia).
Alaska Senate Campaign Money
Through July 29, 2026, Mary Peltola‘s campaign had raised $18.5 million and Dan Sullivan‘s $11.7 million in the 2026 cycle, according to the Federal Election Commission. Dan Sullivan had more cash left, $7.3 million to Mary Peltola‘s $4.6 million, because she had spent $13.9 million to his $5.2 million (FEC, Peltola; FEC, Sullivan).
How Alaska Counts the Senate Vote
Every ballot first counts for the voter’s top-ranked candidate. If no one has more than half of the active ballots, the last-place candidate is dropped and those ballots move to their next choice, round by round (AS 15.15.350). Counting may not start before 8 p.m. local time on Election Day. Our Alaska ranked choice voting guide walks through a real count and the repeal measure on the same ballot.
Alaska's 2026 Senate election, step by step
- August 18, 2026 Top-four primary 16 candidates on one ballot; the top four advance.
- August 31, 2026 Withdrawal deadline Leslie withdrew, and fifth-place Heikes took the slot.
- November 3, 2026 Ranked general election Rank as many of the four candidates as you like.
- January 3, 2027 The new term begins The term runs to January 3, 2033.
Alaska Senate Questions
Who is running for U.S. Senate in Alaska in 2026?
Four candidates: Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, Democrat Mary Peltola, and Republicans Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and Gerald Heikes. Voters rank them on November 3, 2026.
Who won the 2026 Alaska Senate primary?
Mary Peltola finished first in the August 18 top-four primary with 49.54%, ahead of Dan Sullivan with 41.4%. The top four finishers advance to November.
Why are there two Dan Sullivans on the Alaska ballot?
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., whom Ballotpedia describes as a retired teacher, filed for the same seat. The Division of Elections removed him from the primary ballot, and the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that he had to appear on it.
How much have Sullivan and Peltola raised?
Through July 29, 2026, Mary Peltola’s campaign had raised $18.5 million and Dan Sullivan’s $11.7 million in the 2026 cycle, according to the Federal Election Commission. The winner serves from January 3, 2027 to January 3, 2033.
What You Can Do
- Check your registration and polling place on the Division of Elections’ voter information page.
- Practice ranking before Election Day. Our ranked choice voting explainer shows how a ballot moves from round to round.
- Read both campaigns’ filings on the Federal Election Commission’s pages for Peltola and Sullivan.
- Contact your senators, Dan Sullivan and Lisa Murkowski, about the votes coming up in Congress. Our letter-writing guide shows how.
- Read the rest of your ballot: the Alaska governor race and the ranked choice repeal are on it too.