With counting still underway, Trump continues to claim GOP win in Alaska

With counting still underway, Trump continues to claim GOP win in Alaska President Donald Trump continues to assert that incumbent Dan S. Sullivan (R-Alaska) is “leading substantially” in the state’s Senate race — despite figures showing an edge for Democrat Mary Peltola. Basing his math on claims of fraudulent candidates, he said Saturday on social media the race “is OVER.” Trump has expressed frustration about the ballot’s including a candidate with a nearly identical name as the senator’s, Dan J. Sullivan Jr. Republicans say it confused voters and could propel Peltola to an unfair victory. “Sullivan is leading substantially in the Alaska Senatorial Race. When you add Daniel (3,600, 1.68%) into Dan, and Gerald Heikes (4,846, 2.27%), Senator Dan Sullivan is up by thousands of Votes,” Trump wrote. Alaska law doesn’t allow for that: When a candidate is eliminated, each ballot moves only to the next candidate voters ranked. About three-quarters of votes have been counted, according to the Associated Press, with Peltola up by about 600. The result could take weeks. Another batch of votes is expected Tuesday. The Justice Department sued last month to block certification of the results if the senator loses by fewer votes than the other Sullivan received. A judge dismissed the suit, and the department appealed.