Trump says Sen. Sullivan should immediately get Dan J. Sullivan’s votes and be declared the winner

President backtracks on election night declaration that he would accept the results and with one-fourth of ballots remaining to be counted; filings continue in DOJ lawsuit

President Donald Trump speaks during a tour of the White House Ballroom construction at the White House, Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

By Mark Sabbatini

Juneau Independent

President Donald Trump, who said on election night he would accept the results, on Thursday declared incumbent Dan S. Sullivan should immediately be declared the winner of Alaska’s U.S. Senate race after being given all votes cast for Dan J. Sullivan.

"The vote totals for the Fake Dan Sullivan, plus the other 'slug' that the Dems put on the Ballot, should be immediately given to the REAL Dan Sullivan, and the Election is over — He easily wins. There is no other fair solution!" Trump wrote in a Truth Social message.

Alaska is still tallying votes sent by mail or otherwise legally cast by Election Day, which can arrive within 10 days after then for U.S.-sent ballots and 15 days for overseas ballots. The Associated Press estimated on Wednesday about one-fourth of all ballots cast remain to be counted.

Ranked choice tabulation of ballots is scheduled Nov. 18 and certification of the election on Nov. 25.

Democrat Mary Peltola currently leads the race with 48.2% of ballots counted so far, followed by Dan S. Sullivan at 47.9%, Republican Gerald Heikes at 2.3% and Dan J. Sullivan at 1.7%, according to results from the Alaska Division of Elections last updated at 2:11 p.m. Wednesday.

There are a number of unknowns that could affect the outcome either way between Peltola and Dan S. Sullivan.

The remaining votes to be counted are largely from rural districts expected to be favorable to Peltola. An analysis published by the Alaska Beacon on Wednesday noted Dan S. Sullivan would gain more votes than Peltola is a ranked choice tabulation of existing ballots occurred, due to votes he would receive from people ranking Heikes as their first choice. At the same time, more than a third of voters who ranked Heikes or Dan J. Sullivan as their first choice did not rank another candidate, according to The New York Times.

Filings are also continuing in a Trump-ordered lawsuit seeking to halt certification of the race if Peltola narrowly wins. A federal judge in Anchorage dismissed the lawsuit without a hearing before Election Day, with the U.S. Department of Justice now appealing the ruling.

DOJ’s opening brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is due Dec. 14 and answering briefs are due Jan. 11, 2027 — well after newly elected Senate members are sworn in Jan. 3. Some Republican senators have suggested they will refuse to seat Peltola if she wins.

The lawsuit, plus criminal investigations sought by Trump and Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy, are based on allegations Peltola’s campaign recruited Dan J. Sullivan and other spoiler candidates to confuse voters. The accusations have been denied by Peltola and others targeted, and legal experts have stated such tactics, known as ballot stacking, are common and generally legal.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.