Politics1 min read

Alaska governor orders probe into Democratic campaign's alleged links to same-name candidate

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The investigation follows reporting alleging Democratic candidate Mary Peltola and party aides recruited a namesake challenger against incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. Both Democratic entities and the second candidate, retired teacher Daniel J Sullivan Jr, forcefully denied working together or violating election laws. President Donald Trump has responded by demanding Peltola be disqualified from running entirely. However, the Alaska Supreme Court has already turned away legal challenges to disqualify Daniel J Sullivan Jr, ensuring both candidates will remain on the midterm ballot.

Key points

  • A state investigation has been opened into allegations that Democrats attempted to confus…: A state investigation has been opened into allegations that Democrats attempted to confuse voters with a duplicate name on the ballot.
  • Donald Trump and Alaska Republicans have strongly condemned the alleged recruitment schem…: Donald Trump and Alaska Republicans have strongly condemned the alleged recruitment scheme, with Trump urging for Mary Peltola's disqualification.
  • The Alaska Supreme Court has cleared Daniel J Sullivan Jr to appear alongside incumbent D…: The Alaska Supreme Court has cleared Daniel J Sullivan Jr to appear alongside incumbent Dan Sullivan on the upcoming midterm ballot.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

- Published

The Republican governor of Alaska has ordered an investigation into an alleged "scheme" designed "to manipulate Alaska's elections".

Governor Mike Dunleavy said he was responding to a New York Times (NYT) report, external. The story said the team of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola worked with people who tried to recruit a man to contest the Senate race who shares their name with Peltola's opponent, Dan Sullivan.

Sullivan, the incumbent senator, and fellow Republicans have accused the Democrats of trying to confuse voters. President Donald Trump has called for Peltola to be barred.

Peltola's team deny any wrongdoing, or encouraging the second Dan Sullivan to stand in the tight contest.

For his part, the second Dan Sullivan, a retired teacher who lives in a remote fishing village, denies any links with the Peltola campaign. Although he has given few interviews, he told the NYT, external in August he was running the race in good faith as a moderate Republican, albeit that he had voted for Peltola in previous contests.

The ballot paper is set to list the two men…

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