Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and Senator Lisa Murkowski have called for a Department of Justice investigation into Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign, citing reports that her team recruited a candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan to confuse voters. The move follows a New York Times report alleging Peltola's campaign worked with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to find and recruit other Dan Sullivans, aiming to split votes and undermine the incumbent.
The investigation follows a New York Times report that Peltola's campaign, along with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, sought out and recruited a retired schoolteacher named Dan J. Sullivan to enter the race. The report also claims Peltola's team colluded with the DSCC to find other candidates with the same name, aiming to create confusion in the August open primary and next week's general election.
Alaska's Supreme Court ruled last year that Dan J. Sullivan was qualified to run, despite a state elections official earlier this year declaring his candidacy ineligible for the primary ballot. The court's decision came after the DSCC and Peltola's campaign were found to have worked together to recruit the second Sullivan, a move that has drawn criticism from Republicans and legal experts who say it undermines election integrity.
Republicans and legal experts have condemned the practice as a form of ballot-stacking, a tactic that could be considered a criminal offense. While the New York Times report has not impacted a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, the investigation into Peltola's campaign continues as lawmakers and officials push for accountability and transparency in the election process.