By — Becky Bohrer, Associated Press Becky Bohrer, Associated Press By — Meg Kinnard, Associated Press Meg Kinnard, Associated Press By — Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press Alanna Durkin Richer, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/peltola-denies-knowing-about-alaska-spoiler-candidate-as-justice-department-escalates-investigation Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Peltola denies knowing about Alaska spoiler candidate as Justice Department escalates investigation Politics Oct 30, 2026 9:45 AM EDT JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola denied Thursday that she knew anything about an effort to put another candidate on the Alaska ballot with the same name as the Republican incumbent as the Justice Department escalated a criminal investigation with new grand jury subpoenas. "I just want to clear the air," she said at the top of a speech in a downtown bar in Juneau, Alaska's capital. "I knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent. That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters." Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our…
Peltola denies knowing about Alaska spoiler candidate as Justice Department escalates investigation
In short
The Justice Department has intensified its criminal probe by issuing grand jury subpoenas and demanding records preservation following reports tied to the alleged spoiler scheme. President Donald Trump has demanded the criminal prosecution of Peltola and instructed the Justice Department to sue to halt election certification if she wins. Meanwhile, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy launched a separate state inquiry into voter manipulation, while state attorneys have urged a court to resolve the federal lawsuit swiftly to remove uncertainty surrounding the election.
Key points
- Federal and state authorities are actively examining allegations of an organized attempt…: Federal and state authorities are actively examining allegations of an organized attempt to manipulate the Alaska Senate election.
- President Donald Trump has urged the Justice Department to prosecute Mary Peltola and leg…: President Donald Trump has urged the Justice Department to prosecute Mary Peltola and legally block election certification if she prevails.
- State attorneys have requested an expedited court ruling on the federal certification law…: State attorneys have requested an expedited court ruling on the federal certification lawsuit to avoid casting doubt over the final vote.