Conservative, pro-life challenger Kelly Tshibaka holds a narrow lead over 21-year incumbent U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
With just over 36% of prisincts counted, Tshibaka leads 44.36% to 42.69%. Democrat Patricia Chesbro only took 9.54% of the vote, as she pushed a radical agenda centered on expanding abortion, imposing environmental regulations and restricting gun ownership.
Tshibaka – backed by former President Donald Trump – was polling well in the lead up to election day. Whether her advantage holds remains to be seen.
On election night, Tshibaka expressed confidence but admitted that the race looked to be headed to ranked choice tallies.
“When we started this race almost two years ago, we knew it would be a long, tough fight and it looks like it’s not quite over yet,” Tshibaka said. “Everywhere I’ve gone over these last months, Alaskans told me that it’s time for a change in the Senate. For too long, Alaskans have felt that this Senate seat was controlled by the Washington, D.C. insiders and not the people of Alaska. They’re sick of their views being ignored by the D.C. establishment and tired of Alaska being singled out for punishment by the radical Biden administration. They want a senator who will fight for them when it really counts. During this campaign, we gave voice to those concerns and ran the best campaign we could on the issues that we know Alaskans care about.”
Alaska’s new ranked choice voting scheme requires a runoff if no candidate earns more than 50% of the vote. If the current numbers hold, Tshibaka would pick up two to three percentage points from fourth-place finisher Buzz Kelley once he is eliminated. That still wouldn’t be quite enough to push her over 50%. The next candidate to be eliminated would be Democrat Patricia Chesbro. If Tshibaka could pick up 3% of Chesbro’s second choice votes it could be enough to lift her to victory. Murkowski, however, has made a point to align herself with pro-abortion Democrats, which means many of Chesbro’s second-place votes will likely go to Murkowski.
The vote tallies for all candidates will change over the next 15 days as tens of thousands of absentee and early ballots are tallied and added to the final results, which will be announced on Nov. 23.
This is a developing story.
14 Comments
Oh the pins and needles! After the how many millions of dollars D.C dumped into Alaska its a miracle Kelly is still in the race. RINO Murkowski needs to go. She has out lived her usefulness..We need fresh new blood and Kelly will fight for Alaska where Lisa forgot who she represents. Time will tell and hopefully it will be Kelly.
Sorry, but it’s clear. She will not survive the second choices. Don’t kid yourself.
If “Rigged Choice Voting” succeeds, you are correct.. They will get to decide who gets the remaining votes.. Additional votes that we are required to make for people we do not want to vote for… If we want our votes to count.
When RCV works in your favor, you’ll be its strongest proponent. Guaranteed.
“Whidbey Thedog:.. “”When RCV works in your favor, you’ll be its strongest proponent. Guaranteed””… I’m not a democrat, so it will never work that way.. Guaranteed.
Already decided the MurKOWski wins in the write in ballot count, remember I stated a month ago Dunleavy will retain his seat, and Murkowski will retain her seat and the REP. vote would split because of Nick so the DEMONRATS take the seat, and watch and see if Peter A. Micciche doesn’t end up as Keni Mayor. The only good thing is Alaskans didn’t vote in a convention !!!! Surprise surprise
Old moose Murkowski, time for the pastures!
The worst thing at this point of business in an unfinished state is Dunleavy team. The corrections issues of the 20 dead inmates this year will be shoved under a rug and buried. No murder charges brought against any security or policeman at the corrections facility just like no reports to the public on the DHHS Foster Care program and abuse of children by foster care parents and the department personnel. I hope the Federal government gets involved, big time.
I personally hope I never see Palin or Begich name on a ballot ever again. If they both were true conservatives one of them would have dropped out for the sake of the state and the country. Too much ego for both or one was getting paid from the democrats! You decide which. No matter since we get stuck with Peltola as a result. I also believe voters ignorance of RCV will give Murkowski the win. If anyone didn’t want her to win they should have only marked Tshibaka’s name first and Buzz Kelly’s name second and that is it. No rank for Murkowski period. Botelho and Kendall’s plan worked exactly like they planned it and the suckers that voted for RCV will begin to regret that vote. Live and learn I guess.
There was only one who should have reasonably been expected to drop, and that is the guy who lost four times in a row. Why would any reasonable person conclude that the fourth time is a charm. It was all about hating on Sarah Palin. Begich supporters clearly hate Sarah more than they love their State or Country.
The one who should have reasonably been expected to drop was washed up, clueless Sarah, who jumped in at the very last minute, disrupting a solid plan to put another conservative in the house, which Nick and his people had worked on for over a year. According to an article at Must Read Alaska, Sarah at this point actually believes she won, and has begun announcing staff appointments! Someone will have to (slowly) explain to her that she didn’t win, and why. She still won’t get it….. M.John
“The one who should have reasonably been expected to drop was washed up, clueless Sarah, who jumped in at the very last minute, disrupting a solid plan to put another conservative in the house, which Nick and his people had worked on for over a year. ”
Exactlty, this. Sarah=narcissist.
It’s over. I don’t see how she gets a third or more of the Democrat vote. She should’ve listened to Joe Miller and taken Election Integrity seriously. Too bad for Alaska.
We don’t have to wonder, Murkowski took the seat . Not by votes anyway. $$ got it for her. Sad day for alaska. I couldn’t really figure out why Begich stayed in but I guess he and his family hate Palin more than likes us. What really surprised me were the no votes for a constitutional revisit.