By Saqib S. Qureshi — SCN NEWS
WASHINGTON — Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered a state investigation into allegations that Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign was linked to efforts to recruit a rival candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan, escalating a dispute over election integrity just days before the November 3 midterm elections.
Dunleavy, a Republican, directed the Alaska Department of Public Safety to determine whether the alleged recruitment effort violated state election laws and whether criminal charges or civil action were warranted. The order followed fresh reporting that political operatives associated with Peltola's campaign and national Democratic officials had encouraged additional candidates to enter the closely contested Senate race.
The governor said the allegations raised serious concerns about efforts to confuse voters and influence the outcome of the election. He cited an earlier investigation by Alaska's Division of Elections, which had questioned the legitimacy of a candidate sharing the Republican senator's name.
“Deliberately tricking voters into casting their ballots for someone else strikes at the integrity of our elections,” Dunleavy said in a statement posted on social media. He added that anyone found to have broken the law must be held accountable.
The controversy involves Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska, who qualified for the Senate ballot alongside Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan, Peltola and another candidate. The presence of two candidates with nearly identical names has prompted accusations from Republicans that voters could mistakenly support the wrong Sullivan.
A report published Wednesday by The New York Times, citing interviews, text messages and documents, alleged that Democratic political operatives had pursued a coordinated effort to recruit candidates who could draw votes away from the Republican incumbent. Peltola's former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, told the newspaper that the Democratic candidate was aware of the effort but was not directly involved.
Peltola's campaign rejected allegations that it had recruited or coordinated with the second Sullivan. A spokesperson for Alaskans for Mary said the campaign had no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also denied participating in the retired teacher's candidacy.
Peltola, a former Alaska congresswoman, dismissed the controversy during a campaign appearance in Soldotna, describing the allegations as a distraction from issues affecting voters, including rising household expenses and healthcare affordability.
President Donald Trump called for Peltola and the second Sullivan to face criminal prosecution, accusing Democrats of attempting to manipulate the election. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Trump said he believed those involved should be prosecuted and argued that Peltola should not remain on the ballot.
The dispute has already prompted legal proceedings. Alaska election officials initially ruled Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. ineligible after determining that his candidacy was intended to confuse voters. The Alaska Supreme Court overturned that decision in June, allowing him to compete in the election. Sullivan Jr. has denied acting on behalf of Democrats and maintains that he entered the race independently.
The U.S. Justice Department filed a separate lawsuit last week seeking to prevent Alaska from certifying the Senate election results under circumstances in which the Republican incumbent loses by a margin potentially affected by votes cast for the similarly named candidate. Alaska has opposed the federal action, maintaining that the eligibility of candidates is governed by state law.
Under Alaska's ranked-choice voting system, voters can rank candidates according to preference. Election ballots identify the incumbent senator as a registered Republican, while Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. appears without a party affiliation. Early voting began October 19.
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski also criticized the alleged candidate recruitment effort, saying political campaigns should compete on their records and policy positions rather than attempting to influence the composition of the ballot. Murkowski has separately opposed the Justice Department's attempt to intervene in Alaska's election certification process.
The investigation comes amid a competitive Senate contest that could influence control of Congress. Peltola is seeking to unseat Sullivan as Democrats attempt to gain Republican-held seats in the November elections.
State authorities have not announced criminal charges against Peltola or her campaign, and the allegations have not resulted in any finding of unlawful conduct. Dunleavy said investigators would examine the available evidence before determining whether further action was justified.