Write-in votes were topping the number of votes cast in the U.S. Senate race as early results were released Tuesday night.
That would bode well for incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski's bid to be the first U.S. senator since 1954 to win a senate seat as a write-in candidate.
With about 70 percent of the vote in -- 307 of the state's 438 precincts reporting -- write-ins accounted for 39.3 percent of the vote. Fairbanks attorney Joe Miller, the Republican, had 35.3 percent and Sitka Mayor Scott McAdams, the Democrat, 24.3 percent
Incumbent GOP Gov. Sean Parnell jumped out to an early lead over Democratic challenger Ethan Berkowitz, with 59 percent to 38 percent.
As the polls closed at 8 p.m., spectators began to drift into Election Central, at the Egan Center. Candidates were hosting parties in various bars, restaurants and other venues downtown and were expected to make appearances at election headquarters later in the evening.
The first results were posted at 9 p.m. and spectators began to crowd up to the electronic screens displaying results stretched along the front of the room.
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Mary Betton, a senior citizen and supporter of McAdams, was disappointed as she watched early returns come in.
"I haven't voted for a winner for years," the Anchorage resident said.
Others were still holding out hope that Murkowski wouldn't prevail.
"I'm just hoping all those write-ins aren't Murkowski," said Gene Ferguson, a wildlife photographer.
It could be weeks before the outcome of the Senate race is known. If the number of write-in ballots exceeds the number of ballots for the top named vote-getter, the state Division of Elections will begin counting the write-ins, but not until absentee and questioned ballots are in. That takes about two weeks after Election Day because they just have to be postmarked by Nov. 2.
Contact Patti Epler at patti(at)alaskadispatch.com.