The narrow vote to keep RCV in Alaska is great news for Lisa Murkowski but didn’t save Mary Peltola. Meanwhile, RCV lost in five other states.

The historic increase in representation of women came in Alaska even as voters did not reelect U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, the first woman and first Alaska Native person to represent the state in the U.S. House. Peltola was voted out in favor of Republican Nick Begich III.

Alaska retained ranked choice voting after residents defeated a ballot measure to repeal the reform system by a close margin, according to state elections officials. Unofficial results show Alaskans voted 50.

A final ballot count by Alaska’s election workers on Wednesday cemented the narrow lead for supporters of Alaska’s ranked choice voting and open primary system, who sought to defeat a ballot measure that would have done away with the state’s new voting process.

More than two weeks after polls closed, it's official: By the narrowest of margins, Alaska will keep its ranked choice voting (RCV) system. In 2020, Alaskan voters passed Ballot Measure 2, which replaced the state's traditional voting system with RCV. The measure passed narrowly, with just 50.6 percent voting in favor.

Alaska’s open primary and ranked choice voting system survived, while Republican U.S. House candidate Nick Begich defeated Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, according to the unofficial results released on Wednesday.

The G.O.P. united behind Nick Begich III, the conservative son of a prominent liberal Alaska political family, to beat Representative Mary Peltola, a Democrat.

After ranked choice tabulation on Wednesday, Begich had 51.3% of the vote to incumbent U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s 48.7%.

Phil Izon, who led the campaign in support of the ballot measure, said he planned to submit a recount request once the election is certified.

Voters wait in line outside the Alaska Division of Elections Region II office on Gambell Street in Midtown Anchorage to cast their ballot in the general election as absentee in-person and early voting began on Monday, October 21, 2024. According to several voters they waited in line approximately 1.5 hours to vote. (Bill Roth / ADN)

Republican Nick Begich III has won Alaska's sole U.S. House seat, flipping it from Democratic to Republican control. Results of the race posted Wednesday showed Begich defeating Democratic incumbent Rep.