Alaska Senate race heats up over second Dan Sullivan

Alaska’s competitive Senate race has become a national flashpoint over a candidate sharing the name of the incumbent Republican. Democratic nominee Mary Peltola addressed the controversy in Juneau on Thursday, asserting she had no knowledge of the other candidate's presence on the ballot. She told a crowd of supporters that she is not interested in tricking voters and that she is confident she can defeat Sen. Dan Sullivan.

About 15 days before the election, the dispute has intensified. The New York Times reported on Thursday that operatives linked to Peltola’s campaign helped recruit Daniel J. Sullivan. The newspaper cited a former campaign manager and text messages in its account of the effort. Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee denied any role in recruiting the retired teacher.

Peltola, who previously served in the House of Representatives, described the recent coverage as a series of smears and attacks. She asked when the New York Times became the National Enquirer, noting that inquiring minds want to know. She vowed to keep her focus on affordability for working Alaskans while the legal battles continue.

Sen. Sullivan has called the other Sullivan a sham candidate designed to confuse voters and siphon votes. Daniel J. Sullivan, however, has maintained that he is genuinely interested in running. State courts in Alaska allowed him to remain on the ballot. The Justice Department filed a lawsuit last week, asking a federal court to intervene in the matter.

Federal and state authorities are now investigating the situation. The Justice Department issued subpoenas in a separate criminal probe and indicated it may take action if the senator loses due to voter confusion. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered his own investigation into whether the scheme violated state laws. He stated in an interview that the probe could impact whether a winner is certified in next week’s race.

President Trump reacted to the news by saying Peltola and Daniel J. Sullivan should be removed from the ballot and prosecuted. He claimed the Democrats cheated. A Peltola campaign spokesperson responded to the governor’s remarks, saying Dunleavy’s threat to overrule the will of Alaskan voters shows why he is the least popular governor in the country. The spokesperson added that Peltola will not be intimidated by Dunleavy, Sullivan, or their allies in Washington.

The next step in the process is a federal court hearing on the Justice Department’s request. State election officials are preparing for next week’s vote while the legal challenges proceed. The outcome of the Senate seat will depend on how the courts rule and how voters respond to the dual candidates with identical names.