Sullivan, Young projected winners in Alaska races for U.S. Senate, House

National media on Tuesday and Wednesday declared Sen. Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young winners in their races to retain Alaska congressional seats, along with Donald Trump in the vote for president here.

Sullivan had yet to respond to the Associated Press and others calling the race for him, and his opponent, Al Gross, had yet to concede the race.

On Wednesday evening, the state released two more batches of results reflecting about 25,000 new ballots. They didn’t significantly alter the outcome of either race. About 60,000 votes remain outstanding.

The latest results showed Sullivan leading Gross 56.5% to 38.5%, about two points closer than he was Wednesday morning. Sullivan leads by 51,413 votes.

Young’s lead was ahead 57% to 43%. He leads challenger Alyse Galvin by 40,674 votes.

President Trump was leading Democrat Joe Biden 56% to 40%.

After the first round of results Tuesday, the Gross campaign tweeted that there was still a path to victory. Following Wednesday night’s results, Gross' campaign manger David Keith said they continue to monitor results.

Young declared victory Wednesday morning against Galvin.

The 47-year veteran of Congress thanked supporters Wednesday and said he plans to serve on behalf of all Alaskans.

“I want to thank every single Alaskan who took the time to vote, regardless of their political affiliation or preference of candidates,” Young said in statement. “You are the backbone of our democracy.”

The declaration came after national media outlets including the Associated Press called the election for Young, though Galvin has yet to concede.

Because of a week’s wait after Election Day before officials start counting absentee and some early-voting ballots, Alaska has the highest percentage of outstanding ballots in the nation. Following two batches of results delivered Tuesday by the Alaska Division of Elections amounting to more than 70,000 ballots, Young is leading by more than 16 percentage points.

“With over 85,000 votes left to be counted and a 42,000 vote deficit to make up, the path to victory is narrow but still possible," said Bridget Galvin, Alyse Galvin’s campaign spokeswoman. "We will continue to watch the vote count with hope and patience.”

After Wednesday night’s batch, Bridget Galvin said the new results don’t change the campaign’s perspective.

The Division of Elections has not said when it plans to release the next batch of results, or how many ballots will be included in that batch.

Young’s campaign manager, Truman Reed, said while there are still outstanding votes, the outcome is clear.

“While we respect the doctrine of ‘every vote counts,’ the votes on election night, coupled with the absentee votes now counted, show a clear victory for Congressman Young,” Reed said in an emailed statement Wednesday.

Gross and Galvin, both independents running as the Democratic nominees, were projected to be formidable challengers, and potentially victorious. Gross was one of several candidates nationwide with the potential to win a Republican-held seat and flip the Senate to Democratic control.

That resulted in a wave of campaign cash. Oct. 14 campaign finance reports, the most recent available, show Gross having raised nearly $17 million. Another $18 million was spent by independent groups to his benefit.