Republican Senator Dan Sullivan has accused the campaign of his Democratic opponent, Mary Peltola, of orchestrating a "secret scheme to trick" Alaskan voters by placing another candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot. President Donald Trump has amplified these claims, calling the situation "voter fraud at the highest level."
The controversy centers on a second candidate, Dan J. Sullivan, who is running under the same last name as the incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan. Republicans have dubbed the challenger "Decoy Dan," alleging that he was recruited by Peltola's team to siphon votes from the incumbent.
A New York Times investigation reportedly found evidence that Peltola's campaign actively sought to recruit multiple individuals named Dan Sullivan to run in the election, a tactic aimed at improving her electoral prospects. The project was allegedly titled the "Ballot Composition Project."
Senator Sullivan stated on Fox News that Peltola and senior Democrats had a plan to mislead voters and have been "lying for almost a year about it, and now they're caught." He called on Peltola to address the controversy directly and questioned why she had not apologized. Sullivan indicated his focus remains on campaigning but will monitor legal developments, as federal prosecutors are reportedly conducting an "aggressive criminal investigation" into how the second Dan Sullivan ended up on the ballot.
President Trump, speaking at a rally in Ohio, characterized the alleged scheme as "voter fraud at the highest level," adding, "That's what they're good at - cheating." He has called for Peltola and the Democratic Party to be prosecuted and stated that the incumbent Dan Sullivan should be allowed to run without the "fake Dan Sullivan" on the ballot.
Sources suggest that Peltola's campaign staffers were instructed to find individuals named Dan Sullivan. By spring, a retired teacher fitting this description announced his candidacy. The primary distinction between the two candidates is their middle initial.
Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) have denied the allegations. A spokesperson for Peltola's campaign stated that the "Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign," emphasizing that Peltola is focused on issues important to Alaskans. The DSCC also issued a statement denying any involvement in placing a second Dan Sullivan on the ballot.
Amidst the controversy, President Trump has reportedly directed the Justice Department to sue Alaska to prevent the certification of election results if the incumbent loses. The race between Peltola and Sullivan is reportedly close, with one poll showing Peltola leading by a narrow margin.
This situation unfolds as the cost of living in Alaska, particularly high gas prices and grocery costs, has become a significant campaign issue. The candidates also differ on fishing policies, with Peltola advocating for bans on large out-of-state trawlers and Sullivan focusing on preventing unregulated foreign seafood fleets from accessing Alaskan waters and markets.