Palmer, Alaska – Federal prosecutors have asked Republican Senate candidate Gerald Heikes to appear before a grand jury and turn over any communications related to Democratic Sen. Mary Peltola’s campaign, several political action committees and the Elias Law Group. The subpoena was delivered by FBI agents on Saturday while Heikes was working on a drywall job in another part of the state.
Subpoena details and Heikes’ response
The subpoena, dated a day after a New York Times report linked Peltola’s campaign to an effort to recruit “spoiler” candidates, asks for both electronic and paper records. It is signed by a senior official in the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., rather than a local Alaska prosecutor.
Heikes, who describes himself as a conservative and currently trails in third place, told CNN he was not recruited by any operatives. “They want me to appear and tell them what I know and how I was recruited, but I wasn’t recruited. I just took a chance,” he said.
Background on the candidate and the race
Heikes is a longtime drywall contractor who has spent over four decades in the trade. He says his initial inspiration to run for public office came from a sense of divine calling about twenty years ago, when he first sought the governorship. He now supports Sen. Dan Sullivan Jr. over Peltola, though he maintains his campaign is not intended to siphon votes from any major candidate.
According to the report, newly created out‑of‑state PACs linked to an unnamed political operative have spent millions of dollars attacking Sen. Sullivan and supporting Heikes. Heikes says he does not know who is behind that spending.
Election context and ranking‑choice voting
Alaska uses a ranked‑choice voting system, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. President Trump recently posted on social media that votes for Heikes and another long‑shot candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., should automatically transfer to Sen. Sullivan, referring to Heikes as a “slug.” He added, “I’ve been called worse. I’m a sheet rocker. I’ve spent over 40 years in trade, so I know every curse word there is. He’s kind of lightweight.”
Heikes, who has received roughly 2 percent of the vote with a quarter of ballots still uncounted, said the FBI agents were “very polite and then they left.” He emphasized that any suggestion he is an operative for outside interests is incorrect.
Department of Justice response
The Department of Justice declined to comment on the subpoena or the broader investigation. Peltola has denied any knowledge of efforts to recruit additional candidates.
Earlier this year, an unnamed operative reportedly approached Heikes about running for Senate. Heikes said the meeting prompted him to officially enter the race, though he had already been considering a run.
What’s next for the race
The subpoena adds a new layer of scrutiny to an already contentious Senate contest in Alaska. With the election only days away, voters will soon see how the ranked‑choice tabulation resolves the final outcome, potentially consolidating support behind the leading candidates.
For Alaskans following the race, the key takeaway is that federal investigators are actively examining possible coordination between campaign operatives and outside spending groups, underscoring the importance of transparency in the state’s unique voting system.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
