JUNEAU — U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders has withdrawn from the race to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, but he will still be on the ballot for Alaska’s Democratic presidential primary.
Sanders of Vermont, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii remain options on Alaska’s mail-in primary ballots alongside former Vice President Joe Biden. Votes must arrive by mail at the Democrats’ post-office box by Friday.
Alaska party officials said each of the participating campaigns had asked to remain on the ballot. In a video announcing the end of his candidacy Wednesday, Sanders asked supporters to vote for him, saying that if he gets more candidates to the Democratic National Convention, he can more effectively push for progressive policies.
Alaska’s primary will decide the votes of 15 of the 3,979 pledged delegates to the convention. Alaska has four additional unpledged delegates who may vote as they wish.
Through Wednesday, Alaska Democratic Party officials said they have received 17,850 ballots by mail.
Four years ago, 10,610 Alaska Democrats participated in statewide caucuses, picking Sanders over eventual national Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
This year, Democrats are voting by mail instead of holding in-person events. Democrats also extended the deadline for voting because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The party mailed 71,106 ballots in March to registered Democrats. Any registered Democrat who did not receive a ballot may download and print one, then mail it. If it arrives by Friday, it will be counted.
Final results are expected Saturday.
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