CNN poll shows Democrats ahead in Texas and Michigan Senate races as Alaska governor orders probe into Mary Peltola campaign
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A new CNN poll gives Democrats a lead in Texas and Michigan Senate contests, while Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy moves to investigate claims that Mary Peltola’s campaign engaged in deceptive ballot-stacking tactics. The report also comes amid the Trump administration’s push for domestic manufacturing incentives.
A new CNN poll released ahead of the midterm elections shows Democratic nominees leading in two high-profile Senate contests, underscoring Republican vulnerability in races that should be competitive but now appear to be slipping away from the GOP. In Texas, 49% of likely voters said they would support Democrat James Talarico against Republican Ken Paxton, who trails at 43%. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed holds 49% support compared with 42% for Republican Mike Rogers. The poll finds no clear advantage in the Senate races in Maine and Kansas, where Democrats are challenging incumbents.
In Alaska, Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered an inquiry into whether Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign recruited a candidate with the same name as incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan to split the vote. "Deliberately tricking voters into casting their ballots for someone else strikes at the integrity of our elections," Dunleavy wrote on X, adding that anyone found to have broken the law must be held accountable.
"I think that we should certainly look into whether she committed election fraud," Senate candidate JD Vance said while traveling to a Texas campaign event, referring to the alleged scheme.
"She is trying to steal a Senate seat from the voters of Alaska, and it’s disgraceful," Vance added.
Republican Senator Dan Sullivan called the alleged recruitment a "secret operation" that aimed to trick Alaskans, describing it as an "outrage." Alaska senior Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski also condemned the tactic, saying ballot-stacking should have no place in the electoral process.
The investigation follows a New York Times report that Peltola’s campaign, in coordination with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, sought out individuals named Dan Sullivan to run as spoiler candidates. Peltola’s campaign has denied involvement.
The poll and the Alaska investigation come as the Trump administration continues to promote domestic manufacturing incentives, including a proposed tariff-relief program for companies that invest in U.S. factories.