Schumer Accused of Orchestrating Yearlong Plot to Install 'Decoy' Candidate in Alaska Senate Race

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is accused by top Senate Republicans of orchestrating a yearlong scheme to recruit a "decoy" candidate in the Alaska Senate race. The alleged plot aimed to confuse voters by placing another candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot alongside incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Rep. Mary Peltola.

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told Fox News Digital that he believes the campaign received help from the highest levels of the Democratic party. "I mean, this is criminal behavior to steal the Alaska Senate race, it's now been fully exposed," Barrasso stated. "And there is proof that the Peltola campaign knew about it, and that Schumer schemed and colluded with them for over a year to try to search for and then coax a decoy of Dan Sullivan onto the ballot with a purpose only to deceive the voters."

Schumer's office and Peltola's campaign did not respond to requests for comment. The New York Times reported on the alleged scheme, which has led to legal battles and condemnation from Republicans.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, argued on X that "ballot-stacking should have no place in our electoral process." She added, "Alaskans deserve the honest truth from Mary and her campaign — what has been revealed is a pattern of lies and coverups and a culture of deception that belongs nowhere in our elections or among our elected officials."

The situation is particularly complicated due to Alaska's ranked-choice voting system, which means multiple candidates with the same name could appear on the same ballot. The alleged intention was to sow confusion and siphon votes away from the incumbent.

Peltola addressed the controversy at an event in Juneau, Alaska, stating, "I knew nothing about any other candidates on the ballot except for me and the incumbent. That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters. I know I can beat Dan Sullivan."

Barrasso, however, characterized the actions as "dirty, rotten scoundrels — cheaters," and questioned the cynicism of the Democratic campaign's strategy. He expressed confidence that the incumbent Sen. Sullivan would win but criticized the alleged attempt to manipulate voters. "I mean, how more cynical can you get than what the Democrats have done here," he continued.