Alaska Senate candidate denies knowledge of alleged spoiler candidate scheme
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Senate candidate Mary Peltola says she was unaware of any plan to place a second Dan Sullivan on the Alaska ballot, as federal investigations into the matter intensify.
Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola told voters on Thursday that she had no knowledge of any effort to add a second Dan Sullivan to the ballot, saying she only knew of herself and incumbent Republican Dan S. Sullivan. "I just want to clear the air," she said, adding that she is not interested in tricking voters.
The claim comes amid a federal investigation launched by the Trump administration into allegations that Democratic operatives tried to recruit Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from a remote fishing village, as a spoiler candidate. The New York Times reported that members of Peltola's campaign and senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee discussed the recruitment, citing text messages and interviews with twelve sources. The BBC has not independently verified the report.
The Justice Department has issued subpoenas to Democratic officials linked to the alleged recruitment effort, and a federal lawsuit filed by the administration seeks to block certification of the election result if the Trump-backed Sullivan loses, arguing that having two candidates with the same name could confuse voters. The lawsuit was amended on Wednesday to incorporate the Times' reporting and Governor Mike Dunleavy's announcement of an inquiry.
Alaska's Senate race is viewed by analysts as one of the most competitive contests in the upcoming midterm elections, with potential implications for control of the U.S. Senate.