Alaska Governor Launches Probe Into Senate Race Over 2 Candidates Named Dan Sullivan

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered a criminal investigation into the Senate campaign of Democrat Mary Peltola on Wednesday. The directive targets alleged tactics designed to confuse voters by placing two candidates with the same name on the ballot.

The order follows a report by The New York Times. The publication stated that a former Peltola staffer described a strategy to recruit people named Dan Sullivan to run against the Republican incumbent, Dan Sullivan. The campaign’s stated goal, according to the report, was to deliberately create confusion among voters.

The New York Times based its findings on interviews with Peltola’s former campaign manager and a longtime aide. The newspaper also cited text messages and documents reviewed by reporters. These materials indicated that Peltola’s staff and senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee worked together to encourage other individuals with the surname Sullivan to enter the race.

Governor Dunleavy directed the state’s department of public safety to examine the matter. He asked investigators to determine if the scheme violated Alaska’s laws. He also requested a review of whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted.

Peltola’s campaign previously denied any role in soliciting Dan J Sullivan to run against Dan S Sullivan. Dan J Sullivan is a former educator with no prior political experience, according to a May report from the Anchorage Daily News. Dan S Sullivan is the Republican incumbent seeking re-election.

President Donald Trump commented on the situation after the report was published. He called for Peltola to be removed from the ballot and prosecuted. The president had earlier accused Democrats of placing an imposter in the race, citing the presence of two candidates named Dan Sullivan.

Dunleavy wrote on social media that the report reveals new evidence of an organized effort to manipulate elections. He stated that Alaskans have a fundamental right to vote for the candidate they intend to support. The governor added that anyone or any organization found to have broken the law must be held accountable.