Two Senate races remain undecided after Tuesday’s midterms. Democrats lead narrowly in Alaska and Mississippi as counting continues.
Two U.S. Senate races, in Alaska and Mississippi, remained too close to call on Thursday, Nov. 5, two days after the midterm elections, with the Democratic challengers narrowly ahead in the counts reported so far. The Associated Press had not called either race.
In Alaska, Democrat Mary Peltola led Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan by 637 votes with about 75% of the expected vote counted, WHEC/News10NBC reported. ABC News tallies showed Peltola at 48.2% and Sullivan at 47.9%. If no candidate wins more than 50% of first-choice votes, Alaska’s ranked-choice tabulation applies. AP reported that state officials are targeting Nov. 18 for that count, because overseas ballots are accepted for up to 15 days after the election.
In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom led Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 1,138 votes with 96% of the expected vote reporting, WHEC reported. ABC News showed Colom at 49.0% and Hyde-Smith at 48.9%.Sullivan voting in Anchorage on Nov. 3; PBS credited a Reuters photo
Neither contest changes control of the chamber. ABC News projections show Democrats have already secured at least 54 Senate seats to Republicans’ 44, above the 51 needed for control. WHEC reported Democrats also hold at least 240 House seats to 147, with 48 House races still close.
Alaska’s race has also been marked by litigation. AP reported that the Justice Department sued, at President Donald Trump’s direction, to block certification if Sullivan loses, citing confusion with another candidate named Dan J. Sullivan. A federal judge dismissed the suit, and the department has appealed. Peltola has denied involvement in claims about the other candidate’s recruitment, and federal authorities have confirmed a criminal investigation, AP said. Sullivan’s campaign said it remained confident of winning.