America’s farthest-north state House race is now tied, as more votes are counted in Alaska primary

A sign flapping in the breeze on Aug. 20, 2024, at Fire Lake Elementary School in Eagle River marks the site as a polling place in the state's primary election. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

One day after Alaska’s primary election day, results from rural precincts continued to trickle into the headquarters of the Alaska Division of Election.

With 16 of 20 precincts reporting results in House District 40, which covers the North Slope and Northwest Arctic Borough, Democratic candidates Saima “Ikrik” Chase and Robyn “Niayuq” Burke are now tied in a three-way race that also includes former Republican-turned-undeclared incumbent Thomas “Ikaaq” Baker.

Chase and Burke each have 292 votes, while Baker has 238.

The tie may be momentary; elections officials have yet to count questioned and absentee ballots.

Under Alaska’s elections system, up to four candidates — regardless of party — advance from the primary to the general election. In House District 40, that means a tie wouldn’t have a direct impact on the race: All three candidates will advance regardless.

No other races changed leaders on Wednesday.

As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, 396 of 403 precincts had reported election day results. Carol Beecher, director of the Alaska Division of Elections, said results have not yet been submitted by elections workers in Port Heiden, Chevak, Ambler, Kobuk or Noatak.

Two other polling places failed to open on election day .

In the U.S. House race, incumbent Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola extended her lead over a field of 11 opponents; she now has 50.4% of the overall vote.

Republican challenger Nick Begich has 27% of the vote, followed by fellow Republican Nancy Dahlstrom with 20%. Another Republican, Matthew Salisbury of Palmer, has 0.6% of the vote and narrowly leads a host of fourth-option candidates.

A first round of absentee results will be released on Tuesday and added to the tallies statewide. Absentee ballots may arrive through Aug. 30 and will still be counted as long as they were postmarked on or before election day.

The division intends to certify the results by Sept. 1.

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