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Trump weighed in on the controversy on Wednesday, telling reporters that he believed Peltola and the other Sullivan “should be prosecuted”.
Mary Peltola, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate seat in Alaska, addresses supporters at an election watch party on Aug. 18, 2026, in Anchorage, Alaska. (IMAGE: AP PHOTO)
Alaska’s Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy on Thursday ordered a state investigation into Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign following a The New York Times report alleging that people aligned with her campaign helped recruit a candidate sharing the name of her Republican rival, Senator Dan Sullivan.
The investigation raises the stakes in an already closely watched Senate contest, where a retired teacher named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. is also running against the incumbent. President Donald Trump has called for Peltola to be prosecuted, while her campaign and the Democratic Party’s Senate campaign arm have denied involvement in recruiting the second Sullivan.
According to CBS NewsDunleavy said an earlier investigation by the Alaska Division of Elections had prompted him to direct the Department of Public Safety to examine whether the alleged recruitment effort violated state law and whether criminal charges or civil action were warranted.
“Alaskans have a fundamental right to vote for the candidate they actually intend to support,” Dunleavy wrote on social media. “Deliberately tricking voters into casting their ballots for someone else strikes at the integrity of our elections.”
The governor’s announcement followed a report published by The New York Times on Wednesday, which cited text messages and interviews to detail efforts by Democratic operatives associated with Peltola’s campaign and national Democrats to encourage candidates to enter the race.
Peltola dismissed the controversy as a distraction during a campaign stop in Soldotna, Alaska, according to CBS News, citing Alaska Public Media.
“Nobody’s waking up worried about ballot composition,” she said. “Not even me. I’m worried about my bills. I’m worried about affordability in health care.”
Trump Calls For Peltola’s Prosecution
Trump weighed in on the controversy on Wednesday, telling reporters that he believed Peltola and the other Sullivan “should be prosecuted”.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, the president accused Democrats of attempting to manipulate the election and argued that Peltola should not be allowed to remain in the race.
“I don’t think Mary Peltola, after perpetrating such a terrible scheme, should be allowed to run, because this is ELECTION FRAUD,” Trump wrote. “The Democrats cheated!”
The allegations have also been raised by the incumbent senator’s campaign. Nate Adams, a spokesperson for Dan Sullivan, told CBS News that Alaskans deserved to know what had happened.
“Mary Peltola and her campaign have spent months gaslighting Alaskans, denying a scheme they were running all along,” Adams said.
Peltola’s campaign has rejected the allegations. A spokesperson said the campaign “has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign”, adding that its focus remained on reducing costs for Alaskans.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), the party’s Senate campaign arm, has also denied involvement with Daniel J. Sullivan’s candidacy. Its spokesperson countered that Republicans had a history of recruiting and supporting candidates to improve their own electoral prospects.
Who Is The Other Dan Sullivan?
Alaska’s Senate election features four candidates who advanced from the state’s nonpartisan primary. They include Peltola, incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and another candidate.
The ballot identifies the sitting senator as a Republican and an incumbent. Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher, has no party affiliation listed.
The similarity between the two names has been a source of controversy for months. Republicans have accused the challenger of seeking to confuse voters and siphon support away from the incumbent. Daniel J. Sullivan has denied being a sham candidate and maintained that he genuinely wants to serve in the Senate.
The state’s election authorities initially attempted to keep him off the ballot, arguing that his candidacy was not in good faith and could mislead voters. The Alaska Supreme Court overturned that decision, allowing him to contest the election.
Quick Answers
Ask News18Governor Mike Dunleavy directed the Department of Public Safety to examine whether campaign efforts to recruit a candidate sharing the name of Republican Senator Dan Sullivan violated state law and warranted criminal or civil action.
Ask News18About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a chief sub editor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over seven years of experience during which he has …Read More
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October 29, 2026, 10:44 PM IST
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