Alaska Governor Orders Audit After $100 Billion Race Faces Spoiler Challenge
Gov. Mike Dunleavy directed a review of the Senate race following reports that campaign staff recruited a candidate to mimic the incumbent's name.
By Neha Delgado ·
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered a formal investigation into the U.S. Senate race, a contest that will determine control of the chamber. The move follows a report stating that the campaign of Democratic nominee Mary Peltola sought to recruit a challenger who shares the name of Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. This potential manipulation aims to divide the Republican vote and hand the seat to Peltola.
The governor posted the order on social media late Wednesday. This action occurred one day after President Donald Trump demanded the criminal prosecution of Peltola and her team. The president previously instructed the Department of Justice to sue to block the certification of the election results. His legal team argued that the state should not certify a victory for Peltola if Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. remains on the ballot.
Dunleavy cited the New York Times reporting, which detailed text messages and documents from Peltola’s staff. The governor described the findings as evidence of an organized effort to confuse voters. He stated that tricking electors into supporting a different candidate strikes at the integrity of the election. The governor noted that the new reporting supports earlier findings by the state’s elections board.
Peltola, a former congresswoman, defended her campaign during a stop in Soldotna. She characterized the media coverage as a distraction from substantive policy issues. In a video posted online, she said, “This is just another distraction. It’s another diversion. This is all stuff to sell newspapers. This is all stuff to get subscriptions.” Her team did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the governor’s order.
The presence of Sullivan Jr. on the ballot stems from a dispute earlier in the year. A state elections official initially ruled the retired schoolteacher from Petersburg ineligible. The official found his candidacy was filed with the purpose to confuse or mislead. Sullivan Jr. appealed, and the Alaska Supreme Court ruled he was qualified to run. He has maintained that he had no contact with Peltola’s campaign, describing their connection as zero, none, and zilch.
Voters in the state will see two entries on the ballot. The incumbent will appear as Dan S. Sullivan, identified as a registered Republican. The challenger will appear as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., with no party affiliation listed. The New York Times reported that Peltola’s team aimed to coax candidates into the race to split support for the GOP senator. Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he believed the candidates should be prosecuted.
The election is scheduled for this month. The outcome will decide which party holds the majority in the Senate. Dunleavy’s investigation adds a layer of scrutiny to the final days of the campaign. The state elections board will continue to manage the certification process while the governor’s team reviews the evidence.
Source: WKMG-TV
