Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced Thursday that his administration is opening a comprehensive investigation into recent allegations that a Democratic‑linked operation attempted to place a second “Dan Sullivan” on the state’s pivotal Senate ballot. The governor warned that the episode highlights a vulnerability in Alaska’s relatively new ranked‑choice voting system.
Allegations and Source Reporting
According to a report by The New York Times, operatives connected to Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola sought to recruit “spoiler” candidates named Dan Sullivan from various parts of the state. One of those individuals, a retired schoolteacher from Petersburg, filed paperwork under the name Daniel S. Sullivan, matching the incumbent senator’s middle initial and creating confusion among voters.
The Times article notes that the Petersburg candidate initially denied any recruitment, but later evidence suggests coordination with Peltola‑aligned operatives. Governor Dunleavy said the timing of the report, just days before the midterm elections, underscores the need for swift action.
Governor’s Response
“This would have never happened if we didn’t have ranked‑choice voting,” Dunleavy told Fox News Digital. “If this were a traditional primary, the individual would not have gotten onto the ballot.” He added that the state’s election system, which advances the top four finishers from a nonpartisan primary to a general election where voters rank candidates, allowed the duplicate name to advance.
Dunleavy emphasized his duty to ensure Alaskans receive an election they can trust. “Our job as executives is to provide an election that everyone can look at and say was done with integrity,” he said. “The current situation casts a pall over that confidence, and we will not tolerate it.”
Legal Background
The initial investigation in June led to a Alaska Supreme Court decision that permitted both Dan Sullivans to appear on the ballot, with the incumbent marked as “incumbent.” The governor noted that the court’s ruling was based on the information available at the time, and that new details from the Times report have since emerged.
Governor Dunleavy said his office will work with the lieutenant governor’s office, which oversees elections, to determine whether any violations of state or federal law occurred, including potential civil or criminal infractions.
Republican National Committee Reaction
The Republican National Committee has already labeled the alleged scheme “fraudulent” and called for thorough scrutiny. Former Federal Election Commission chair Hans von Spakovsky warned that any undisclosed in‑kind services provided to the Petersburg candidate could constitute a prohibited contribution under federal law.
Von Spakovsky cited a past FEC case involving Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign, which was found to have accepted illegal foreign in‑kind contributions, resulting in civil penalties.
What Comes Next
With Election Day approaching, Governor Dunleavy pledged that the investigation will continue for as long as necessary. He cautioned that the incident could foreshadow future attempts to manipulate elections through misleading candidacies.
State officials have not yet released details on the scope of the probe, but the governor affirmed that the investigation will examine any possible violations, including civil infractions and criminal conduct.
Fox News Digital reached out to Senator Peltola for comment; her campaign denied any involvement in the alleged recruitment effort.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
