President Donald Trump on Wednesday demanded that law‑enforcement officials pursue criminal charges against Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola of Alaska. Trump said the alleged recruitment of a second candidate named Dan Sullivan was a “dirty campaign trick” that threatened the fairness of the upcoming election.
Trump’s call for action
Speaking to reporters, the President said, “I think they should be prosecuted,” referring to Peltola and the other Dan Sullivan who appeared on the ballot alongside incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Trump added that Peltola should face “legal and political consequences for what she has done,” echoing his earlier directive to the Department of Justice to block certification of the race should Peltola win.
Alaska’s ballot controversy
The New York Times reported that text messages from Peltola’s campaign discussed recruiting a candidate with the same name as the Republican incumbent to create voter confusion. The campaign eventually settled on Dan J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher from the small fishing community of Petersburg, who qualified for the August open primary and now appears on the ranked‑choice ballot.
Dan J. Sullivan has denied any coordination with Peltola’s team, stating, “Zero, none, zilch,” when questioned in June. A state elections official previously ruled him ineligible, citing a filing purpose intended to mislead voters, but the Alaska Supreme Court later affirmed his eligibility.
Responses from Alaska leaders
Sen. Dan Sullivan, appearing on Fox News, urged Alaskans to confront Peltola directly, saying, “Look Mary Peltola in the eye and ask her, ‘Did you cheat?’ She won’t even answer that question.” Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who has endorsed Sullivan, called for “the honest truth” from Peltola, describing the alleged scheme as a “pattern of lies and coverups” that has no place in elections.
Peltola’s defense
Peltola’s campaign dismissed the report as a distraction from substantive issues, such as Sen. Sullivan’s support for the war in Iran. In a statement, the campaign said Alaskans deserve a champion who will lower costs and put Alaska first, and that no tweet or threat from any Washington politician will deter her from that fight.
Earlier this year, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) denied involvement with Dan J. Sullivan, stating, “The DSCC is not involved with Dan Sullivan.” The Times report, however, noted that DSCC staffers appeared in text exchanges with Peltola’s team discussing the second Sullivan.
Legal context
Legal experts noted that the controversy is unlikely to affect a lawsuit recently filed by the Department of Justice at Trump’s direction, which seeks to halt certification of a potential Peltola victory. Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller called the recruitment effort “a dirty campaign trick” and said the matter now rests with voters.
Election outlook
Alaska’s Senate race is one of several contests that will determine control of the U.S. Senate. As of Tuesday, more than 61,000 ballots had been cast, according to Associated Press data. The ballot lists incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, the independent Dan J. Sullivan Jr., and Democrat Mary Peltola.
The Trump administration’s firm stance underscores its commitment to protecting election integrity and ensuring that Alaskans receive a clear, honest choice at the polls.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
