Votes are tight for Alaska's U.S. House race and ranked choice repeal

And: Biden administration sets stage for 2nd lease sale in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Email not displaying correctly? [View the web version]( Today's sponsor: [Today's sponsor: Matson]( Good afternoon. It’s Wednesday, Nov. 6. In today's newsletter: - Republican challenger [Nick Begich III was ahead]( of Democratic incumbent Rep. Mary Peltola in Alaska’s U.S. House race early Wednesday morning, but final results likely won’t be known until later this month. - The Biden administration has[issued a final environmental review]( for a second lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. - Donald Trump was [elected the 47th president]( of the United States in an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts. A professional free diver and spear fisherman was about to surface from his dive on a Barbados beach when his metal detector picked up something buried under the ocean floor. He [unearthed a decades-old golden graduation ring]( with a dark red gemstone — and returned it to its owner in Canada just before the man's 83rd birthday. Anchorage weather It's mostly cloudy today in Anchorage with a high near 42 degrees and a chance of scattered rain showers. We should see partly sunny skies for the next several days and daytime temperatures hovering in the mid- to high 30s. Here’s what else is making headlines in Alaska today. — Megan Pacer, mpacer@adn.com [Alaska’s U.S. House race close as early votes roll in →]( Begich had 49.66% of the over 255,000 votes counted as of this morning, while Peltola had 45.27%. If the top vote-getter does not receive over 50% of the vote, the election will be decided in a ranked choice tabulation. • Related: [Preliminary 2024 Alaska general election results]( ADVERTISEMENT [Biden administration sets stage for minimal second lease sale in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge →]( [The goal is limiting the footprint where seismic exploration could take place and avoiding polar bear dens and caribou calving areas, the Interior Department said](. [Trump reclaims the White House →]( With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency. He became the first person convicted of a felony to win and the first former president to regain power since 1892. • Related: [Trump poised to win Alaska’s electoral college votes]( [Alaska voters appear split on ranked choice voting →]( Just over 4,700 votes separated those in favor of repealing the state's ranked choice voting and open primary system and those against, with tens of thousands of ballots left to be counted. • See also: [Ballot Measure 1, aimed at boosting Alaska minimum wage, passing by wide margin]( [Construction of cargo terminal at Port of Alaska could be delayed due to lack of contractor bids →]( Officials say construction of the first cargo dock terminal will likely be delayed because the city did not receive any bids from construction companies after undergoing a monthslong procurement process to select one. [Several incumbent Alaska legislators trail in preliminary election results →]( On the line is control of both legislative chambers, which can have a significant impact on the types of bills that become law and how the Legislature works with Gov. Mike Dunleavy. ADVERTISEMENT More from the ADN [Alaska judges appear headed for retention →]( [Election takeaways: A decisive Trump victory in a nation that remains deeply divided →]( [West Anchorage hockey team off to a strong defense of state title despite many graduations →]( [What Trump’s victory could mean for oil companies and climate change policy →]( [Analysis: Harris gave hope to Democrats, but a whirlwind run ends in crushing loss →]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Click here to unsubscribe and manage your email subscriptions.]( Anchorage Daily News, 300 W 31st Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503, United States