Alaska Governor Orders Senate Ballot Probe

Voters in Alaska face a state-ordered investigation into their U.S. Senate race as they prepare to cast ballots. Governor Mike Dunleavy announced Wednesday night that the Department of Public Safety will review whether the presence of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan violated state laws. The governor stated that officials will determine if criminal charges or civil action are warranted.

The directive follows a report by The New York Times alleging that Democratic campaign staff sought to recruit a non-incumbent Sullivan to the ballot. The article, based on communications from Mary Peltola’s attorneys and senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, claims the move was designed to confuse voters and split the Republican vote. Peltola, a former congresswoman, is attempting to unseat incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan.

Democratic officials denied involvement in the strategy. The Peltola campaign and the DSCC reiterated their previous statements that the non-incumbent Sullivan’s candidacy was independent. Peltola described the media coverage as a distraction while campaigning Wednesday. The non-incumbent Sullivan did not respond to media requests for comment, though he has previously stated the decision to run was his own.

Republican leaders reacted swiftly to the reporting. Nate Adams, a spokesperson for Senator Sullivan, said in a statement that Peltola’s team had spent months denying a scheme they were executing. President Donald Trump posted online that the incident represented voter fraud at the highest level. His Justice Department had already filed a motion last week asking a court to delay certification if the incumbent loses by a small margin.

State election officials had previously allowed the second Sullivan to appear on the general election ballot after the Alaska Supreme Court ruled in June. The court decision followed a probe by state officials into the candidacy. The Justice Department officials said Thursday that the new reporting expands their options for investigation and filed an amended complaint citing the article.

Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, noted that such tactics are common in politics. She said the internet makes it easy to spread or correct these strategies. Some Alaska voters expressed frustration that the news is diverting attention from other issues. Others argued that voters would not be confused because the ballot identifies the Republican incumbent.

The state uses a ranked-choice voting system for the general election. If voters are unsure, they can rank both Sullivans and leave Peltola unranked. A separate question on the ballot asks voters if they want to keep this unique election system.