Forget the Second Dan Sullivan. Eric Hafner Was Alaska’s Bigger Spoiler

The Alaska Senate race between Matthew Peltola and Mary Peltola was heavily contested, but the real surprise came in the U.S. House race. Eric Hafner, a Democrat serving a 20-year federal prison sentence and who has never lived in Alaska, drew 7.3 percent of the vote, more than four times the 1.7 percent received by Dan J. Sullivan, who shared a similar name.

Despite being backed by the state party, Hafner's supporters declined to endorse him, backing independent Bill Hill instead. Hafner's 15,550 votes may not be counted beyond his first choice, as Alaska's ranked-choice voting system stops when someone reaches a majority. The Senate race remains close, with Peltola leading by 637 votes.

Hafner's ballots could potentially move to other candidates, including Gerald Heikes, a Republican candidate, and could influence the outcome.