ANCHORAGE — Democrat Mary Peltola won Alaska's U.S. Senate race, defeating Republicans Kelly Tshibaka and Buzz Kelley to secure her first full six-year term and expand the Democratic majority to 52 seats.
The victory marks a striking shift in Alaska politics. The state has backed Republicans for federal office for decades, yet Peltola—the first Alaska Native elected to Congress—won by consolidating support across party lines, including from independents and moderate Republicans.
Peltola's campaign centered on issues with direct economic impact: sustainable fisheries, resource development and tribal sovereignty. She positioned herself as willing to work across the aisle, a framing that resonated in a state often seen as Republican terrain.
The state's ranked-choice voting system, adopted in 2020, proved decisive. Under that system, voters rank candidates by preference. If no candidate tops 50 percent on first-choice votes, the lowest-ranked candidates are eliminated and their votes redistributed until a candidate reaches a majority. Peltola benefited from second and third-choice votes from voters whose initial picks fell short.
For Republicans, the loss stings. The party invested heavily in the race hoping to trim the Democratic Senate margin. Instead, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer now holds 52 votes—enough to pass legislation without relying on swing-vote moderates, reducing their leverage over his agenda. The new Senate convenes Jan. 3.
