Alaskans vote today in a primary narrowing the governor, Senate and House races

Alaskans are voting today in a primary that will winnow crowded fields for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House down to the four candidates in each race who advance to November. Polls are open until 8 p.m.

Under Alaska's open primary, every candidate for an office — regardless of party — appears on one ballot, voters pick one per race, and the top four finishers move on to the Nov. 3 general election. That system is why the ballot is so full, and why races don't sort neatly by party this early.

The governor's race has the largest statewide field, with 17 certified tickets and no incumbent, as Gov. Mike Dunleavy is term-limited. The candidates are Tom Begich, Click Bishop, Dave Bronson, Adam Crum, Edna DeVries, Meda DeWitt, Shelley Hughes, Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, Lesil McGuire, Treg Taylor, Bill Walker and Bernadette Wilson, among the certified tickets.

The U.S. Senate race puts Alaska in the middle of the national fight for control of Congress. Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is seeking another term, and former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, a Democrat, is running for the seat. The ballot also carries a second candidate named Dan Sullivan, who is not the senator, and who appears on it after a court ruled him eligible.

In Alaska's single U.S. House race, Republican Rep. Nick Begich is running again. Among his challengers is Bill Hill, whom Matt Schultz endorsed in July after suspending his own campaign.

Also on the ballot are state legislative races and Ballot Measure 1, which would set limits on campaign contributions in Alaska, capping individual donations to a candidate at $2,000 per election cycle with an inflation adjustment once a decade. Supporters cast it as restoring limits struck down in recent years; opponents argue such caps are unnecessary or favor incumbents. Voters decide it today.

The Division of Elections expects the first unofficial results shortly before 9 p.m., covering Election Day and early votes; absentee and later-arriving ballots will be counted in the days after, with certification targeted for Aug. 31.