Alaska’s high‑profile Senate contest has become the focus of a heated dispute, with Republican officials accusing Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of orchestrating a year‑long effort to insert a duplicate candidate named Dan Sullivan onto the ballot. The alleged scheme, they say, was intended to create voter confusion and give Rep. Mary Peltola a competitive edge against incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.
Republican officials describe the plan as a scandal
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R‑Wyoming) told Fox News Digital that he believes the Peltola campaign received assistance from top Democratic operatives. “This is criminal behavior to steal the Alaska Senate race, and there is proof the Peltola campaign knew about it,” Barrasso said. He added that Schumer allegedly colluded with the campaign for more than a year to recruit a “decoy” Dan Sullivan.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R‑Alaska) also weighed in on the matter, posting on X that “ballot‑stacking should have no place in our electoral process.” She called the alleged actions a “pattern of lies and cover‑ups” that undermine Alaskan voters.
Peltola’s response
At a recent event in Juneau, Peltola denied any knowledge of a second Sullivan candidate. “I knew nothing about any other candidates on the ballot except for me and the incumbent,” she said. “I am not interested in tricking voters. I know I can beat Dan Sullivan.”
How the alleged scheme would work
Alaska uses a ranked‑choice voting system, meaning that multiple candidates with the same name would appear on the same ballot. Critics argue that a duplicate Dan Sullivan could split votes or cause confusion, potentially benefiting Peltola’s campaign. Barrasso suggested the plan was designed to mock Alaskan voters, calling the alleged actors “dirty, rotten scoundrels.”
Democratic side
National Democrats have publicly denied involvement. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) and Schumer’s office did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
The controversy has already prompted legal challenges at both state and federal levels, though no court rulings have been issued yet. Alaska’s election officials have said they will monitor the situation closely as the filing deadline approaches.
What’s next?
With the primary election looming, the focus now shifts to whether any legal action will be taken to remove the alleged decoy candidate from the ballot. Both parties are urging voters to stay informed about the candidates and the voting process, especially given the complexities of ranked‑choice voting.
Alaskans are encouraged to review the official candidate list and verify the names on their ballots before heading to the polls.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
