Former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola outpolled Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in Monday's all-party primary in Alaska, a result that instantly reshapes one of the most closely watched Senate races of the 2026 midterms and hands Democrats a fresh jolt of momentum in their bid to flip the chamber.

With about 80% of ballots counted, Peltola led with 63,364 votes (48.0%) to Sullivan's 56,510 (42.8%), according to results tracked by The Washington Post. Two minor candidates, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and David Leslie, trailed far behind. Under Alaska's top-four primary system, all four advance to a ranked-choice general election on November 3.

A Rematch of Alaska's Political Order

Peltola, who represented Alaska's lone U.S. House seat before losing her 2024 reelection bid, is best known nationally for her upset 2022 special-election win for the seat long held by the late Rep. Don Young. Sullivan, seeking a third Senate term, has held statewide office since 2015 and was considered a comfortable favorite heading into this cycle. CBS News noted that a Democratic-aligned candidate leading a sitting Republican senator in primary votes is a rare occurrence in deep-red Alaska statewide races.

ALASKA'S TOP-FOUR SYSTEM SENDS BOTH TO A RANKED-CHOICE SHOWDOWN.

Primary night results are not final outcomes under Alaska's system — they simply determine which four candidates move on, with the general election decided by ranked-choice tabulation in November. Still, running behind an incumbent senator in first-choice votes is a signal Sullivan's campaign will need to address before the fall, particularly given how narrowly Republicans currently hold the Senate.

National Democrats have increasingly eyed Alaska as a longer-shot pickup opportunity given Peltola's crossover appeal with independent and moderate voters, built during her House tenure on fisheries and Alaska Native issues. Republicans, meanwhile, are expected to pour in outside spending to shore up Sullivan through November, framing the primary count as an incomplete picture given the ranked-choice format still to come.

Neither campaign issued an extensive statement as full counting continued Tuesday. With control of the Senate within reach for either party this cycle, both national parties are expected to treat Alaska as a top-tier battleground for the remainder of the campaign, pouring in resources for a race few expected to be this competitive just months ago.