Democratic Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola told supporters in Juneau on Thursday that she had no knowledge of a third-party candidate sharing the exact first and last name of her Republican opponent, GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan. Speaking at a capital rally, Peltola addressed intense scrutiny following reports that Democratic operatives allegedly helped recruit the candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, to appear on the ballot.
“I just want to clear the air. I knew nothing about any other candidates on the ballot except for me and the incumbent,” Peltola told the crowd. “That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters. I know I can beat Dan Sullivan.” The former U.S. House representative decried what she termed “smears and attacks,” expressing frustration over the ongoing controversy and criticizing media coverage of the allegations.
The ballot presence of Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher, has drawn prolonged anger from Republicans. Sen. Dan Sullivan has repeatedly condemned him as a “sham candidate” designed to confuse voters and split the incumbent’s support, though the retired teacher has previously denied those claims and insisted his run is genuine. State courts previously permitted him to remain on the ballot.
The situation escalated significantly after published reports cited a former Peltola campaign manager and reviewed text messages suggesting Democratic operatives orchestrated candidate recruitment efforts in the state. Spokespeople for both the Peltola campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have denied any involvement in recruiting the alternative candidate.
The controversy has triggered major legal and political fallout. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit last week seeking to potentially block certification of the election if the incumbent senator loses due to voter confusion, alongside issuing subpoenas in a separate criminal probe. Meanwhile, Republican Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered a state investigation into whether the alleged scheme violated local laws and whether civil or criminal action is warranted, noting the probe could affect vote certification in the upcoming Senate election.
President Trump weighed in on the matter with sharp criticism, asserting that Peltola and Daniel J. Sullivan should face prosecution and removal from the ballot, declaring that “The Democrats cheated!”
A Peltola campaign spokesperson fired back at the governor’s remarks, stating that “Dunleavy’s threat to overrule the will of Alaskan voters exemplifies what Alaskans hate about partisan politics and shows why he’s the least popular governor in the country.” The spokesperson added that Peltola refuses to be intimidated by state or national political allies attempting to influence the election outcome before ballots are counted.
