Alaska voters appear to keep ranked choice voting as repeal trails 53% to 47%

Alaska voters are rejecting a second attempt to repeal the state's ranked choice voting and open primary system. In the latest results posted Nov. 10, Ballot Measure 2 had 47% "Yes" and 53% "No" ⁴. Counting is not finished, and the state has not yet posted final results ⁴.

Alaska adopted the system by ballot measure in 2020 and has used it since 2022 ². All primary candidates share one ballot, and the top four vote-getters advance to a general election where voters rank them ². Measure 2 would have restored party primaries and "pick-one" general elections ².

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The measure would also have repealed some campaign finance rules that identify the sources of large "dark money" contributions ¹². That detail drew less attention than the voting-method fight.

Money and politics behind the measure

The No on 2 campaign raised more than $10.4 million, over four times the $2.5 million raised by the measure's backers ². Both sides leaned heavily on outside billionaires ². Elon Musk gave $1.5 million to the Aurora Action Network, the main funder of the repeal side ¹.

From Channel GOPPeltola: Tariffs doubled Alaska air taxi's parts billMary Peltola · 142 plays · captioned, with the source named

President Donald Trump and the Alaska Republican Party criticized the system before the election, calling it hard to understand and prone to odd results ². Supporters of the current system include the Alaska Federation of Natives, labor groups and leaders of the state's bipartisan legislative coalitions. They say it favors moderate candidates ².

Both sides agree the open primary makes it harder for hard-line partisans to beat moderates such as Sen. Lisa Murkowski ¹.

Why the count is still moving

Election night results in Alaska can mislead. In 2024, "Yes" led on election night, but late-counted ballots pushed "No" above 50%, and the repeal failed narrowly ¹.

Pollster Ivan Moore said this year's outstanding ballots should lean Democratic ³. That is consistent with the margin growing from about 52% for "No" on Nov. 4 to 53% by Nov. 10 ³⁴.

The early vote is much, much, much more Democratic, and the Election Day vote is much more Republican.

What it means for the close races

The results of Measure 2 do not decide any race. Still, the system it would have scrapped is how Alaska is counting two top contests. In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Mary Peltola had 49% and Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan had 47.2% as of Nov. 10 ⁴.

In the governor's race, Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins had 49.9% of first-choice votes in a four-way contest ⁴. He wins outright if he passes 50% when counting ends. Otherwise, ranked choice tabulation decides it ⁴.

The state is set to run any ranked choice tabulation and declare unofficial winners on Nov. 18 ⁴. The campaigns are already sparring. Peltola's campaign manager, Cheryl Bruce, said Peltola is "on her way to a decisive victory" ⁴. Sullivan's spokesman, Nate Adams, said there is "a long way to go before every Alaskan's voice is heard" ⁴.

What happens next

The state posts its next results update Friday, Nov. 13 ⁴. The ranked choice system stays in place unless the final count flips, and the 2024 pattern suggests late ballots tend to help the "No" side ¹³⁴.

Voters also backed Ballot Measure 3 by a wide margin in early results. It says only U.S. citizens may vote in state elections, which Alaska already requires, so it has no practical effect ¹.

That matters because Alaska is one of the few places where voters have twice chosen to keep a system that Trump and state Republicans oppose. Repeal backers have now tried and failed twice ².

The Record

1. Nov 3, 2020Alaska voters adopt open primaries and ranked choice voting by ballot measure ².
2. Nov 5, 2024A first repeal attempt narrowly fails after late-counted ballots shift the result ¹².
3. Nov 10, 2026With counting ongoing, Ballot Measure 2 trails 47% to 53%; ranked choice tabulation is set for Nov. 18 ⁴.

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<h2>Alaska voters appear to keep ranked choice voting as repeal trails 53% to 47%</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/alaska-voters-appear-to-keep-ranked-choice-voting-as-repeal-trails-53-to-47">The GOP Files</a> on Friday, November 13, 2026.</em></p> <p>Alaska voters are rejecting a second attempt to repeal the state&#39;s ranked choice voting and open primary system. In the latest results posted Nov. 10, Ballot Measure 2 had 47% &quot;Yes&quot; and 53% &quot;No&quot; . Counting is not finished, and the state has not yet posted final results .</p> <p>Alaska adopted the system by ballot measure in 2020 and has used it since 2022 . All primary candidates share one ballot, and the top four vote-getters advance to a general election where voters rank them . Measure 2 would have restored party primaries and &quot;pick-one&quot; general elections .</p> <p>The measure would also have repealed some campaign finance rules that identify the sources of large &quot;dark money&quot; contributions . That detail drew less attention than the voting-method fight.</p> <h2>Money and politics behind the measure</h2> <p>The No on 2 campaign raised more than $10.4 million, over four times the $2.5 million raised by the measure&#39;s backers . Both sides leaned heavily on outside billionaires . Elon Musk gave $1.5 million to the Aurora Action Network, the main funder of the repeal side .</p> <p>President Donald Trump and the Alaska Republican Party criticized the system before the election, calling it hard to understand and prone to odd results . Supporters of the current system include the Alaska Federation of Natives, labor groups and leaders of the state&#39;s bipartisan legislative coalitions. They say it favors moderate candidates .</p> <p>Both sides agree the open primary makes it harder for hard-line partisans to beat moderates such as Sen. Lisa Murkowski .</p> <h2>Why the count is still moving</h2> <p>Election night results in Alaska can mislead. In 2024, &quot;Yes&quot; led on election night, but late-counted ballots pushed &quot;No&quot; above 50%, and the repeal failed narrowly .</p> <p>Pollster Ivan Moore said this year&#39;s outstanding ballots should lean Democratic . That is consistent with the margin growing from about 52% for &quot;No&quot; on Nov. 4 to 53% by Nov. 10 .</p> <blockquote><p>The early vote is much, much, much more Democratic, and the Election Day vote is much more Republican.</p><p>&mdash; Ivan Moore, Alaska pollster</p></blockquote> <h2>What it means for the close races</h2> <p>The results of Measure 2 do not decide any race. Still, the system it would have scrapped is how Alaska is counting two top contests. In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Mary Peltola had 49% and Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan had 47.2% as of Nov. 10 .</p> <p>In the governor&#39;s race, Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins had 49.9% of first-choice votes in a four-way contest . He wins outright if he passes 50% when counting ends. Otherwise, ranked choice tabulation decides it .</p> <p>The state is set to run any ranked choice tabulation and declare unofficial winners on Nov. 18 . The campaigns are already sparring. Peltola&#39;s campaign manager, Cheryl Bruce, said Peltola is &quot;on her way to a decisive victory&quot; . Sullivan&#39;s spokesman, Nate Adams, said there is &quot;a long way to go before every Alaskan&#39;s voice is heard&quot; .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>The state posts its next results update Friday, Nov. 13 . The ranked choice system stays in place unless the final count flips, and the 2024 pattern suggests late ballots tend to help the &quot;No&quot; side .</p> <p>Voters also backed Ballot Measure 3 by a wide margin in early results. It says only U.S. citizens may vote in state elections, which Alaska already requires, so it has no practical effect .</p> <p>That matters because Alaska is one of the few places where voters have twice chosen to keep a system that Trump and state Republicans oppose. Repeal backers have now tried and failed twice .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/alaska-voters-appear-to-keep-ranked-choice-voting-as-repeal-trails-53-to-47">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/alaska-voters-appear-to-keep-ranked-choice-voting-as-repeal-trails-53-to-47.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. Alaska Public Media, “Early results show Alaskans rejecting ranked choice voting repeal” (2026-11-03). alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-11-03/early-re
2. Anchorage Daily News, “Alaska on track to keep its election system, early results show” (2026-11-04). adn.com/politics/2026/11/03/alaska-on-track-to-keep-its-elec
3. Alaska Public Media, “6 takeaways from Alaska's election” (2026-11-04). alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-11-04/6-takeaw
4. Alaska Public Media, “Peltola and JKT strengthen leads in latest Alaska election results” (2026-11-10). alaskapublic.org/news/politics/elections/2026-11-10/peltola-

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