Alaska's Democratic Senate hopeful Mary Peltola on Thursday forcefully denied any knowledge of her campaign's alleged role in recruiting a namesake candidate to siphon votes from Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan, reiterating her stance as investigations intensify just days before the election.
"I just want to clear the air," Peltola told a crowd in Juneau, according to The Associated Press. "I knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent." She added, "That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters."
The denial comes amid a firestorm of accusations that her campaign helped place a second "Dan J. Sullivan" on the ballot to confuse voters in Alaska's ranked-choice system. The Justice Department has filed suit, arguing the name duplication could unfairly tilt the race. The New York Times reported Wednesday that Peltola's campaign was directly involved in recruiting the other Sullivan, prompting sharp rebukes from Republican leaders.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) took to social media to condemn the alleged scheme, writing, "Alaskans will leave Peltola unranked on the ballot because of her dirty tricks. Voters can trust the real Dan Sullivan, and I'm confident he'll be re-elected." He also urged the DOJ to investigate. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) mocked Peltola's legislative record, saying, "Two terms in Congress. Zero bills signed into law. But she found time to hunt down every Dan Sullivan in Alaska."
President Trump has weighed in repeatedly, calling for legal and political consequences. In a Truth Social post, he claimed Democrats "illegally searched for, and recruited, a man named Dan Sullivan" to "defraud, confuse, and obfuscate the Election." Trump has also suggested Peltola should be barred from running.
Peltola's campaign has consistently denied any wrongdoing. But the controversy has triggered multiple probes: Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) has ordered an investigation into the alleged ballot stacking, warning it could affect certification if Peltola wins. The House Oversight Committee, led by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), has also launched its own inquiry.
The race remains highly competitive. Nonpartisan forecaster Decision Desk HQ currently gives Peltola a 60% chance of victory, though the spoiler scandal has clouded final forecasts. With ranked-choice voting, the presence of a same-name candidate could theoretically push voters to rank the incumbent lower or leave him off entirely, potentially boosting Peltola's chances.
Political analysts note that while Peltola has denied involvement, the revelation of alleged campaign coordination has energized Republican voters and drawn national attention. The outcome could hinge on how Alaskans perceive the integrity of the process—and whether they believe Peltola's denials.
