Alaska Governor Orders Probe of 'Sullivan' Ballot Dispute

Two candidates named Dan Sullivan appear on the Alaska Senate ballot this week. The presence of both men has become the central issue in a tight race that will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate.

A report from The New York Times alleges that Democratic campaign operatives worked to recruit the non-incumbent Sullivan. The story cites interviews and communications between attorneys for Democrat Mary Peltola and aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Republicans have long suspected a spoiler candidate was being organized to confuse voters and divide the Republican vote. The two candidates share the exact same name.

Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman seeking to flip the seat, called the news a distraction while campaigning on Wednesday. The Peltola campaign and the national party committee have repeatedly denied involvement in the non-incumbent's candidacy. The non-incumbent Sullivan did not respond to media requests for comment on the new report. He has previously stated that running for office was his own decision.

Republican reaction was immediate and sharp. Nate Adams, a spokesperson for the incumbent, said Peltola has spent months denying a scheme they were running all along. President Trump posted online that the situation represents voter fraud at the highest level. The Justice Department, which had already asked a court to delay certification if the incumbent loses by a small margin, filed an amended complaint citing the new reporting.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered the state Department of Public Safety to investigate whether the scheme violated state laws. He asked officials to determine if criminal charges or civil action are warranted. It is unclear which specific laws may have been broken. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled in June that the non-incumbent Sullivan could stay on the general election ballot after a state probe.

The race is decided under a ranked-choice voting system. If a voter is confused about which Sullivan is which, they can rank both men. That would keep the race between the Republicans and prevent Peltola from advancing. Voters are also deciding whether to keep this unique voting system on the same ballot.

Elaine Kamarck, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, described the tactic as standard fare for campaigns. She noted that the internet makes it easy to spread both tricks and corrections. Some Alaskans told Alaska Public Media they are frustrated by the attention, while others doubt voters will be confused because the ballot labels the Republican incumbent.