Alaskans Await Final Tally in Senate and Governor Races

Voters across Alaska are waiting for final results in two high-stakes races that have not yet been decided. The U.S. Senate seat, contested in a bitter campaign, and the governor’s office, an open seat, both face the possibility of ranked-choice voting tabulations. A state ballot measure to repeal Alaska’s unique system of open primaries and ranked-choice general elections also remains too close to call. The state’s election process relies on a two-round system where candidates who do not secure an outright majority in the first round face a runoff based on voters’ ranked preferences.

The wait for these results comes amid a national political shift. Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress in the Tuesday election, marking a decisive rejection of the previous Republican majority. This outcome followed a midterm election that many analysts describe as a blowout for the Democratic Party. The change in Washington is expected to influence the tone of the political debate in Alaska, where voters have historically shown a preference for independent-leaning candidates.

President Donald Trump has acknowledged that the ongoing war with Iran affected the midterm results. He suggested that voters were frustrated by rising gas prices, a byproduct of the conflict that has lasted more than eight months. The President struck a conciliatory tone earlier in the day, indicating a willingness to work with the new Democratic Congress. However, he later warned that he would use his veto power to strike down the Democratic agenda if necessary.

The political fallout from the midterms is already reshaping the Republican Party. Vice President JD Vance, a contender for the 2028 presidential nomination, blamed the war in Iran for the party’s losses. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, the current House speaker, will not seek reelection, according to two people familiar with the matter. These developments signal a period of internal restructuring for the GOP as it prepares for the next cycle.

In New Hampshire, Democrats achieved a historic sweep. They gained a supermajority in the state House, the largest legislative body in the nation. A preliminary count from the House clerk shows 292 Democrats, 107 Republicans, and one Independent. In the state Senate, Democrats hold 15 seats, falling just short of a supermajority. Democrats also won all five seats on the Executive Council, a panel that approves state contracts and key appointments. This victory complicates the path for Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte.

Markets reacted to the midterm results with mixed signals. World shares were mostly higher on Thursday, though heavy selling of artificial intelligence-related stocks offset gains in some regions. South Korea’s Kospi sank more than 5%, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 lost nearly 2%. In Europe, the German DAX rose 0.6% to 26,598.03, while the CAC 40 in Paris surged 1.2% to 8,276.55. The U.K.’s FTSE 100 gained 1% to 10,935.08.

In the U.S., the Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped more than 3% on Wednesday after Republicans lost control of Congress. The S&P 500 jumped 1.6%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 1.4%. Technology shares took a hit as investors considered the potential impact of a Democratic-led Congress on the artificial intelligence boom. The future for the S&P 500 was nearly unchanged, while the Dow futures were up 0.4%.

Democratic leaders have vowed to launch major probes into what they describe as corruption in the Trump administration. House Democrats are preparing a vast oversight agenda to examine how Trump and his family have become wealthier since his return to office. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, who is in line to become House speaker, has not ruled out trying to impeach Trump for a third time. Senior Democrats in both chambers plan to use subpoena powers and larger investigative staffs to pursue these inquiries.

The election results also reflected voter dissatisfaction with the economy. According to an AP Voter Poll of roughly 100,000 midterm voters, most respondents said Trump’s policies had fueled inflation. Only about half of 2022 midterm voters said the same about Biden’s policies. The Republican redistricting efforts in eight states, aimed at securing a House majority, failed to hold back the Democratic surge. The plan fell flat in Alabama, Florida, and Texas, and was defeated by voters in Missouri.

As the 2028 election season begins, both parties are jockeying for position. Democratic prospects are promoting themselves, while Republicans scramble to distance themselves from the midterm loss. Vice President JD Vance, who entered the night as the GOP’s leading presidential prospect, now faces a more vulnerable position. The final votes in Alaska will add another layer to this complex national narrative.