Trump lashes out as Alaska GOP alleges Democratic ballot scheme in Senate race
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President Donald Trump amplified accusations that Democratic operatives tried to muddy Alaska’s 2026 Senate contest by helping recruit a namesake candidate, while the Department of Justice moved to intervene in the fight over the ballot.
A New York Times investigation says Democratic operatives helped recruit a candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan to run alongside incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan in Alaska’s 2026 Senate race, in what Republicans describe as a cynical attempt to confuse voters and manipulate the outcome. The report, based on interviews, text messages and documents, says the effort began in 2025 and involved aides from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which denies any role in the matter.
Alaska’s ranked-choice system advances the top four candidates from the primary to the general election. In addition to Senator Sullivan and Democratic challenger former Representative Mary Peltola, the ballot includes Republican Gerald Heikes and Daniel J. Sullivan. Republicans have sought to remove the latter from the ballot, arguing that his candidacy is a spoiler meant to distort the race.
The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Alaska election officials, claiming Daniel J. Sullivan’s candidacy is designed to benefit the Peltola campaign by siphoning votes from the incumbent. The suit seeks to block certification of the election results if the incumbent does not win and to investigate voter intent.
"The DSCC is not involved with Dan J. Sullivan," a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson told Newsweek.
"Alaskans deserve the truth," Nate Adams, spokesperson for Senator Sullivan, said, accusing the Peltola campaign of attempting to deceive voters.
President Trump responded on Truth Social with claims that Democrats are trying to defraud the election and demanded legal consequences for Peltola. He repeated the allegation at a rally in Ohio, pressing for the candidate to be removed from the ballot.
Alaska election officials said the ballot design distinguishes the two Sullivans by including middle initials and party affiliation. The state’s election board argued that the federal government lacks authority to dictate state ballot qualifications.
Polls show a tight race, with recent aggregates giving Peltola a narrow lead of 1–2 points over Senator Sullivan in the final ranked-choice round.