Politics
Alaska’s Ranked‑Choice Voting Faces Legal Battle Over Two Dan Sullivans
Alaska’s use of ranked‑choice voting could shape the 2026 Senate race amid a lawsuit from the Trump administration over two candidates named Dan Sullivan. The state’s ballot now lists incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan, a registered Republican, and challenger Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher with no party affiliation. State officials have added party labels to differentiate the candidates, but concerns remain that voters might confuse the two and inadvertently rank the wrong person.
Ranked‑choice voting, used statewide in Alaska and Maine and in several cities such as New York, allows voters to rank candidates by preference. If no candidate receives more than 50 % of first‑choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and those ballots are transferred to voters’ next choices. This process repeats until a candidate attains a majority. The system eliminates the need for a separate runoff election.
Alaska approved ranked‑choice voting in a 2020 ballot initiative. The state’s open‑primary system lets all candidates compete, with the top four advancing to a general election decided by ranked choice.
In June, the Alaska Supreme Court permitted both Sullivans to remain on the ballot. President Donald Trump has sued to block certification of the Senate election results if incumbent Dan S. Sullivan loses, arguing that name confusion could affect the outcome. Alaska officials and Democrats challenge the lawsuit, noting that election administration is a state responsibility.
Ranked‑choice voting is also used in local elections nationwide, including New York City and San Francisco. Hawaii employs it for certain special elections, Washington, DC, adopted it for federal and local contests starting in 2026, and Virginia recently expanded its use. However, about 19 states have laws that prohibit or restrict the system, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.