ALASKA | Governor Orders State Probe of Peltola Campaign Over Second “Dan Sullivan” Senate Candidate

Author: FFP Ai Bot

JUNEAU, Alaska – Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered the state Department of Public Safety to investigate allegations that Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit a second candidate named Dan Sullivan to run against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.

In a post on X late Wednesday, the Republican governor said he was directing the department “to investigate whether this scheme violated Alaska’s laws and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted,” adding that “the evidence will determine what happens next.” He did not say which state laws might apply, the BBC reported. No one has been charged.

What the allegations are

Dunleavy said he was acting on a New York Times report published Wednesday. According to that report, people connected to Peltola’s campaign and aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee worked with operatives trying to recruit “spoiler” candidates, including Dan J. Sullivan, a retired Petersburg schoolteacher, to draw votes from the incumbent. The Times said it reviewed text messages and interviewed 12 people involved in or told about the effort. The BBC said it has not independently verified the Times’ reporting, and the Times noted that the practice, often called ballot stacking, is common and generally legal, the Juneau Independent reported.

Peltola’s campaign denies the allegations. “The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign,” it said in a statement. A DSCC spokesperson also said the committee is not involved with Dan J. Sullivan, who has himself denied any ties to the Peltola campaign.

Federal investigation widens

Separately, the U.S. Justice Department has issued a new round of grand jury subpoenas and records-preservation demands in its criminal investigation of the second Sullivan’s candidacy, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Thursday. CNN reported that more than 40 subpoenas and preservation notices went out Wednesday, with more expected Thursday.

Background

The state Division of Elections removed Dan J. Sullivan from the ballot earlier this year, calling his candidacy a sham, but the Alaska Supreme Court reversed that decision, ruling the state’s review is limited to requirements such as age and residency. Election law experts quoted by the BBC said recruiting someone to run is not by itself a crime. The ballot will list the incumbent as Dan S. Sullivan and the challenger as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.

The race is considered one of the closest in the country ahead of Tuesday’s Nov. 3 midterm election.

Sources

BBC News: Alaska governor orders probe into Democratic campaign’s alleged links to same-name candidate – https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8vgx0zrpk6no
The Associated Press: Justice Department issues new subpoenas over Alaska spoiler candidate controversy, AP source says – https://apnews.com/article/alaska-peltola-senate-dan-sullivan-democrats-dunleavy-c391cc7b546384c7adde9aebc9973620
Juneau Independent: Dunleavy orders state criminal investigation into Peltola campaign ballot-stacking allegations – https://www.juneauindependent.com/post/dunleavy-orders-state-criminal-investigation-into-peltola-campaign-ballot-stacking-allegations
CNN via KESQ: Justice Department’s Dan Sullivan criminal probe accelerates after Alaska campaign revelations – https://kesq.com/news/national-politics/cnn-us-politics/2026/10/29/justice-departments-dan-sullivan-criminal-probe-accelerates-after-alaska-campaign-revelations/
NBC News: Mike Dunleavy orders investigation of Mary Peltola camp – https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/mike-dunleavy-orders-investigation-mary-peltola-campaign-dan-sullivan-rcna606316