Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan accused challenger Mary Peltola of orchestrating the recruitment of a retired schoolteacher named Dan J. Sullivan to siphon votes, citing a New York Times report linking her team to the effort. While Peltola has forcefully denied involvement, the Department of Justice has sued to halt certification if the incumbent loses, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered a criminal inquiry. The Alaska Supreme Court previously allowed the second candidate to stay on the ballot, leaving the toss-up race unsettled on the eve of the vote.
Key points
Dan Sullivan pledged to accept the election outcome while accusing his opponent of resort…: Dan Sullivan pledged to accept the election outcome while accusing his opponent of resorting to underhanded campaign tactics.
Mary Peltola maintains she had no involvement or knowledge regarding the entry of the sec…: Mary Peltola maintains she had no involvement or knowledge regarding the entry of the second Sullivan onto the ballot.
Nonpartisan race raters consider the Alaska contest a toss-up that could decide the balan…: Nonpartisan race raters consider the Alaska contest a toss-up that could decide the balance of power in the Senate.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan said Sunday he would accept the results of Tuesday's midterm elections, while slamming Democratic candidate Mary Peltola's campaign for reportedly recruiting Dan J. Sullivan to run as a spoiler.
"No, I'm going to accept the election results," Sullivan said on CNN's "State of the Union" when asked whether he would accept the results only if he wins. President Donald Trump's Department of Justice has sued Alaska, demanding the state not certify the election if the incumbent Republican loses.
The lawsuit cites theoretical voter confusion over the appearance of the second Sullivan on the ballot, which DOJ says could siphon votes away from the incumbent Republican Sullivan and benefit Peltola. Alaska's Senate race is rated as a "toss-up" by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, and Peltola holds a slight edge in the polling average compiled by FiftyPlusOne.
Peltola has repeatedly denied any involvement with the second Sullivan. However, The New York Times reported last week that her campaign was directly involved with recruiting Dan J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher, to run as a…
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Federal authorities intervened in the high-stakes election after concerns emerged that a similarly named unaffiliated candidate, Daniel Sullivan Jr., was siphoning support from the sitting Republican senator. While the Justice Department argued voter protections warranted federal intervention, the court determined the government had no authority to challenge the certification process under the cited statute. This procedural loss leaves state-level certifications on track unless a planned federal appeal succeeds.