Instant-runoff voting

Alaska's Proposition 2, which would repeal the state's top-four primary and ranked-choice general election in favor of partisan primaries and single-choice voting, appeared headed for defeat as counting continued, with "no" leading roughly 52% to 48% on partial returns. Republicans had pushed the measure partly over frustration with Sen. Dan Sullivan's tight re-election race against Democrat Mary Peltola, complicated by a second, unrelated candidate also named Dan Sullivan dubbed "Decoy Dan." The Justice Department and Alaska's governor are investigating whether that candidate was recruited as a spoiler; Democrats deny involvement. Supporters of the current system say it reduces party control and broadens voter choice.

Alaska's U.S. Senate race, which could help decide Senate control, remains too close to call, with Democratic challenger Mary Peltola holding a razor-thin lead over incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan as absentee and rural votes are counted under the state's ranked-choice system. The contest is clouded by controversy over a second, little-known candidate also named Dan Sullivan, whom Republicans accuse Democratic operatives of recruiting to confuse voters; some voters have reported uncertainty over which candidate they selected. The Alaska Supreme Court upheld his right to run, and a federal judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit to block certification of a Peltola win, though the DOJ is appealing, prosecutors continue investigating, Peltola denies any scheme, and President Trump has said he will not challenge the results.

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins conceded to Democrat Troy Jackson early Wednesday, ending her bid for a sixth term and flipping a seat Democrats counted among several wins that gave them a 53-seat Senate majority on Election Night. The Associated Press had not formally called the race, and Maine's ranked-choice voting system could still delay an official result if neither candidate cleared 50% amid possible write-in votes. Jackson, a former Maine Senate president backed by Bernie Sanders, became the nominee in July after Graham Platner dropped out amid controversy. The contest drew over $140 million in spending, among the largest sums ever for a Senate race in a state of under 1.5 million people.

Collins, 73 and first elected in 1996, leaned on her Appropriations Committee seniority and independence from Trump; Jackson, 58, attacked her Kavanaugh vote and ties to Trump's agenda.

Voters across the country cast ballots Tuesday in midterm elections determining control of Congress and several governorships. Closely watched Senate races include Ohio (Sherrod Brown vs. Jon Husted), Texas (Ken Paxton vs. James Talarico), Iowa (Ashley Hinson vs. Josh Turek), South Carolina (Darline Graham vs. Annie Andrews), North Carolina (Roy Cooper vs. Michael Whatley), Virginia (Mark Warner vs. Mizusawa), Florida (Ashley Moody vs. Angie Nixon), Kentucky (Andy Barr vs. Charles Booker), Maine (Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson), Alaska (Dan Sullivan vs. Mary Peltola), Delaware (Chris Coons vs. Katz) and Rhode Island (Jack Reed vs. McKay). Democrats need to flip four Senate seats for a majority. The Associated Press has already called several races: Josh Shapiro won re-election as Pennsylvania governor, J.B. Pritzker won a third term as Illinois governor, and Juliana Stratton won Illinois's Senate race, becoming one of three Black women serving simultaneously in the Senate for the first time. Early returns showed Democrats with an advantage in House and Senate tallies, with South Carolina's race unexpectedly close. In Arizona, Gov. Katie Hobbs faces Rep. Andy Biggs, and Florida's governor's race pits David Jolly against Byron Donalds.

Spending was historic, with Ohio's Senate race topping $500 million in ads and crypto group Fairshake spending heavily against Brown. Election officials in Florida, Texas and North Carolina addressed flooding, polling-place changes and technical delays as turnout ran strong nationwide, with full results expected to take hours given state-by-state counting.

Control of the Senate is on the line as voters cast ballots in several closely watched 2026 midterm races. In Alaska, Republican Dan Sullivan faces Democrat Mary Peltola, complicated by a same-named independent candidate on the ranked-choice ballot. New Hampshire sees Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas against Republican former Senator John E. Sununu for Jeanne Shaheen's open seat, while Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont seeks a third term against Republican state Senator Ryan Fazio. Other tight contests include Ohio's Sherrod Brown vs. Jon Husted, Iowa's Josh Turek vs. Ashley Hinson, Maine's Susan Collins vs. Troy Jackson, and South Carolina's special election following Lindsey Graham's death.

Democrats need to flip several Republican-held seats to retake the majority; Cook Political Report lists six Senate races as tossups. Turnout has been heavy in Texas, Florida, and New Hampshire, with Trump-aligned super PACs and crypto industry groups spending heavily to influence outcomes in Ohio and Texas.

Alaskans are voting Tuesday in a ranked-choice general election deciding the governor's race, a closely watched U.S. Senate contest, the U.S. House seat, and most state legislative seats. Two ballot measures are also before voters, including one that would repeal the state's open primary and ranked-choice system. The Senate race, seen as pivotal to national chamber control, gained extra scrutiny after the Trump administration sued to block certification should GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan narrowly lose; a federal judge dismissed that suit, and the government plans to appeal. The open governor's race features three Republicans and one Democrat. Final ranked-choice tabulation and certification won't occur until mid-to-late November.

Alaska heads into 2026 with high-profile Senate and governor contests, both decided under the state's top-four ranked-choice voting system. Republican Senator Dan Sullivan is defending his seat against Democrat and former Representative Mary Peltola, with a four-person field complicated by a fishing-village retiree who happens to share the incumbent's name. In the governor's race, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins is seeking to become Alaska's youngest governor and its first Democratic one since 1998, facing three Republicans: Bernadette Wilson, who has President Trump's endorsement, former Attorney General Treg Taylor, and former Anchorage Mayor Dave Bronson.

Ranked-choice dynamics make these races harder to call than simple head-to-head matchups, a point of particular interest for prediction markets tracking both outcomes.