Peltola says she knew nothing about second Dan Sullivan on Alaska ballot
The Democratic candidate denied awareness of a recruitment effort days before the general election, as federal courts and the Justice Department weigh in on the dispute.
By Madison Darwish ·
Mary Peltola stated on Thursday that she was unaware of any effort to place another candidate named Dan Sullivan on the Alaska Senate ballot. Speaking at a rally in Juneau, the Democratic nominee said, “I just want to clear the air. I knew nothing about any other candidates on the ballot except for me and the incumbent. That is all I have ever known about,” according to Associated Press video. She added in a social media post, “I am not interested in tricking voters. I know I can beat Dan Sullivan.”
The comments follow a report published Wednesday by The New York Times. The article alleged that Peltola’s campaign and aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee helped recruit Dan J. Sullivan, a Republican, to appear on the ballot under a name similar to the incumbent. Former Peltola staffer Elisa Rios told the Times that Peltola was not directly involved but was “definitely aware” of the move. The Peltola campaign previously told ABC News it had no involvement with either Sullivan campaign.
The dispute has drawn legal attention from both state and federal authorities. Alaska courts reviewed the candidacy of Dan J. Sullivan and found nothing illegal about his bid, even though the Trump administration argued the move was an attempt to confuse voters. Meanwhile, the Justice Department has begun issuing a new wave of subpoenas as part of a criminal probe into the alleged recruitment efforts. The administration also filed a civil lawsuit last week seeking to stop the state from certifying results if Senator Sullivan loses by a narrow margin. A federal judge is expected to rule on that case in the coming days.
President Donald Trump raised the issue on Friday morning during a radio call-in. He argued that Alaskans would need a “190 IQ” to distinguish between the two candidates on the ballot. The ballot lists the incumbent as Dan S. Sullivan, a registered Republican, while the challenger is listed as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. with no party affiliation. Senator Dan Sullivan, appearing on Fox News on Thursday, described the effort as a “secret operation” intended to trick voters.
The primary results show the margin of victory for Peltola far exceeded the vote share of the challenger. Peltola received 48 percent of the primary vote, while Dan J. Sullivan received 2 percent. Incumbent Senator Sullivan earned 43 percent in that contest. The general election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3.
Source: KOIL
