Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola has denied knowing about an alleged effort to recruit a second man named Dan Sullivan to run in Alaska's Senate election. Her denial comes amid an escalating criminal investigation and a legal dispute over a race that could determine which party controls the Senate.
The incumbent, Republican Senator Dan S Sullivan, and his allies have accused Democrats of seeking to confuse voters by placing another candidate with the same name on the ballot. Addressing voters on Thursday, Peltola said she had known only about her own candidacy and that of the incumbent. She added: "I am not interested in tricking voters."
Both Sullivan candidates have been in the race for some time, but the dispute intensified earlier this week following a New York Times report. The newspaper alleged that people connected to Peltola's campaign and senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had sought to recruit Dan J Sullivan, a retired teacher living in a remote fishing village, to enter the contest.
The Times said its reporting drew on text messages and interviews with 12 people. Those interviewed included people who had participated in or been told about the alleged plan, along with prospective candidates approached about running. The BBC has not independently verified the report. Peltola's campaign has rejected the allegations, and Dan J Sullivan has denied having links to her campaign.
According to CBS News, the BBC's US news partner, the Department of Justice has started issuing subpoenas directed at Democratic officials allegedly connected to efforts to recruit Dan J Sullivan. No charges had been filed by Friday morning. Alaska's Republican governor, Mike Dunleavy, also ordered an official inquiry earlier in the week.
Separately, the Trump administration filed a federal lawsuit last week seeking to prevent certification of the election result if the Trump-backed incumbent loses. The administration argued that having both men on the ballot could confuse voters. On Wednesday, the Justice Department amended the lawsuit to incorporate substantial portions of the Times report and Dunleavy's announcement of an investigation.
The investigations and court action are unfolding just days before Americans vote in midterm elections that will decide control of Congress. Analysts regard Alaska's Senate contest as one of the tightest races, and its outcome could prove decisive for control of the chamber. The non-partisan Cook Political Report currently rates the contest as a toss-up.
