The Senate Race In Alaska Is What A Rigged Election Looks Like

The ongoing U.S. Senate primary race in Alaska has raised significant concerns over the integrity of its ranked-choice voting (RCV) system. Incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan is currently behind Democratic candidate Mary Peltola, leading to questions about the fairness of the electoral process.

Election Status: As of now, Dan Sullivan trails Mary Peltola by about five points, with 30,000 votes still to be counted. However, uncounted votes may not alter the election's outcome due to Alaska’s RCV system.

Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV): RCV replaced traditional party primaries but has faced criticism for encouraging outcomes that may favor Democrats over Republicans. This system enables multiple candidates across political affiliations to remain on the ballot, often diluting conservative votes.

Recent Election Outcomes: The 2022 special election saw Peltola’s victory attributed to the Republican vote being split, allowing her to win in the second round of vote counting. Other odd outcomes include allowing a convicted felon on the ballot due to RCV rules.

Decoy Candidate: A candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan, not previously associated with the Republican Party, is accused of intentionally misleading voters to confuse them and siphon votes away from Sen. Sullivan. His candidacy was supported by Democratic operatives.

Funding and Backing: The RCV initiative passed in 2020 largely due to heavy financial backing from outside sources, significantly outspending local opposition. This effort aimed to prevent established Republicans like Sen. Lisa Murkowski from facing serious competition in primaries.

The situation highlights growing concerns about the integrity of Alaska’s electoral process under the current RCV system, perceived as a tool for partisan manipulation. The urgency for a repeal of RCV is emphasized as the state approaches key elections, with notable financial backing for such efforts, including significant donations aimed at promoting fairness in elections. 

https://thefederalist.com/2026/08/24/the-senate-race-in-alaska-is-what-a-rigged-election-looks-like/