Alaska Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola has publicly denied any knowledge of a campaign effort to recruit a candidate sharing the name of her Republican opponent, incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan. Her comments come as the U.S. Department of Justice intensifies a criminal investigation into the matter, recently issuing new grand jury subpoenas.
Addressing supporters at a Juneau event on Thursday, Peltola stated, “I knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent.” Her denial follows reports that operatives aligned with her campaign spent months searching voter records to identify individuals named Dan Sullivan in an attempt to create voter confusion on the state’s four-person ballot.
Investigation Escalates
The controversy centers on allegations that Democratic staffers and allies sought to peel votes away from Senator Sullivan by placing a namesake on the ballot. Internal communications previously reported by the New York Times indicated that campaign aides and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (D.S.C.C.) staff celebrated when an Alaska court allowed the second Dan Sullivan to remain on the ballot.
As the Justice Department continues its probe into the recruitment efforts, the focus remains on whether the campaign’s actions violated election laws. Peltola’s remarks serve as her first direct public response to the allegations as the federal investigation moves forward.
