A memo to media from the campaign of Alan Gross for Senate:
To: Interested Parties
From: David Keith, Campaign Manager, Dr. Al Gross for Senate
Subject: Status of AK-SEN race: Outstanding Ballots
Date: 11/5/2020 10 A.M. AKST
The dynamics of the Alaska Senate race at this hour remain in a state of flux. As expected by everyone who has been watching the turnout here in the state, Sullivan is benefitting from an early lead, but with approximately 44.6 percent of the ballots not yet counted, his lead can—and we believe will—be overcome once every vote has been counted in the state.
Based on the numbers, we are urging everyone—in-state press as well as folks in the lower 48—to avoid hasty predictions or to make calls based on projections. Before anyone declares a winner, we owe it to Alaska’s voters to have their voices heard and ensure that every vote is counted. Here is what we know at this hour:
Why this race is so different than in the past:
The lopsided fundraising in this race—with Dr. Al Gross raising $19 million to Dan Sullivan’s $9 million—made this race competitive until the end. Public polling leading up to Election Day proves this:
- Independent Alaska polling showed Dr. Al Gross leading Dan Sullivan 47-46.
- Patinkin Research Strategies polling showed Dr. Al Gross leading Dan Sullivan 47-46.
Simply put: Too much of the vote that was cast remains uncounted to call the 2020 U.S. Senate race in Alaska.
Approximated as of 10 am AKST 11/5/2020
Total number of votes counted: 190,872
- Election Day: 154,604
- Early vote before Oct. 30: 36,268
What remains uncounted: 153,423
- Mail-in ballots: 116,730 (and growing)
- Early vote between Oct. 30 – Nov. 3: 16,963
- Questioned Ballots (Estimation): 20,000
Estimated percentage of vote that remains uncounted: 44.6%
A question mark on this race should remain until at least Nov. 10 when at least 153,000 votes—44.6% percent of the votes cast—begin being counted and every Alaskan’s voice heard.
