Alaskans Await Final Counts in Senate and Governor Races
Key ballot measures and open seats remain unconfirmed as midterm results shift national power to Democrats.
By Victoria Hayes ·
Alaska voters are waiting for final results in three key contests as of Thursday. The U.S. Senate race, the open gubernatorial seat, and a ballot measure on election rules all remain too close to call. These pending outcomes follow a midterm election that shifted control of Congress to the Democratic Party.
The ballot measure seeks to repeal Alaska's unique system of open primaries and ranked-choice voting. Voters in the state have used this method for general elections. The result of this measure could change how Alaskans cast their ballots in future elections. State officials are counting late-arriving mail and provisional ballots.
The U.S. Senate campaign in Alaska was described as bitterly fought. The open seat for governor is also unresolved. Neither race has a declared winner as of the latest available data. The state has a smaller population than most, meaning fewer total votes are needed to determine outcomes, but margins remain tight.
Nationally, the midterm elections resulted in a significant shift for Democrats. Republicans lost their majorities in the House and Senate. This change occurred amid voter frustration with President Donald Trump's policies. The Democratic Party gained seats in several surprise upsets across various states.
In Texas, every congressional district voted more Democratic than the estimated 2024 presidential margin under new boundaries. The state will send 14 Democrats to the U.S. House. This represents a net gain of one seat for the party. Shifts of more than 30 percentage points were recorded in the 9th, 15th, and 28th Districts.
Curtis Hertel, chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, said the party was united in its messaging. He told reporters that a clear majority of the party focused on affordability. "I don't know how you could watch the election results and say that there are rifts," Hertel said. He attributed the results to a consistent message rather than internal divisions.
Abdul El-Sayed was elected to the U.S. Senate from Michigan. He became the first Muslim elected to the chamber. El-Sayed defeated Republican rival Mike Rogers. "They tried to demonize people because of how they pray," El-Sayed said. "And Michigan, the whole Michigan, clapped back."
Stock markets reacted to the election results and the ongoing war in Iran. The Nasdaq composite fell 3 percent on Thursday. The S&P 500 dropped 1.8 percent. AI chip stocks tumbled due to concerns that a Democratic Congress might restrict the industry. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 403 points.
The Bank of England indicated that falling energy prices could limit interest rate hikes. The bank raised its main rate to 4 percent from 3.75 percent. This was the first increase in nearly three years. Officials said the outlook for borrowing costs depends largely on the situation in Iran. Many believe it is less likely that President Trump will launch new strikes on Iran now that Democrats control Congress.
President Trump acknowledged that the Iran war affected the midterms. He suggested voters were frustrated by high gas prices. The conflict has lasted more than eight months. Vice President JD Vance, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, blamed the war for the Republican losses. Mike Johnson of Louisiana will not seek reelection as House speaker.
