Alaska Senate race: Democrats accused of recruiting a second Dan Sullivan
Republicans say Mary Peltola’s campaign helped a Republican named Dan J Sullivan enter the ballot to confuse voters.
What Republicans allege
Republican officials have called for an investigation into a possible ballot‑stacking effort in Alaska’s Senate race. They claim Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign recruited a second candidate named Dan J Sullivan to run against incumbent Republican Dan S Sullivan, hoping to confuse voters.
Who is Dan J Sullivan?
Dan J Sullivan entered the race in May as a Republican. He is a retired schoolteacher and former U.S. Forest Service employee with no prior political experience. He challenged both incumbent Dan S Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola.
What the New York Times reported
The New York Times said its reporting, based on interviews with at least a dozen participants, found that Peltola’s campaign worked with senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to find “spoiler” candidates, including Dan J Sullivan, and other potential candidates sharing the name Dan Sullivan.
Text messages and documents cited in the report show campaign staff discussing the recruitment of these candidates.
Responses from the campaign
Peltola’s campaign denied encouraging or soliciting Dan J Sullivan to run, a statement also made to the Anchorage Daily News in May. On Thursday, Peltola said she knew nothing about Dan J Sullivan and was “not interested in tricking voters.”
Legal backdrop
Ballot stacking itself is not illegal. However, the U.S. president and the Justice Department have filed a lawsuit to block certification of the Senate election results if incumbent Dan S Sullivan loses. A federal judge dismissed that lawsuit over the weekend, and the administration is expected to appeal.
How ballot stacking works
Definition: A political tactic where a party, campaign, or outside group recruits additional candidates to appear on the ballot.
Goal: To draw votes away from an opponent, sometimes by using candidates with similar names or appealing to the same voter base.
Legality: The practice is not prohibited by law, though it can raise ethical concerns.
The allegations and the pending legal actions add another layer of controversy to an already competitive Alaska Senate race.
