Trump Vows Investigation into Alaska Senate Race 'Hoax'

President Trump has vowed to investigate allegations that a challenger named Dan Sullivan in Alaska's Senate race is part of a Democratic plot to confuse voters and undermine the incumbent Republican senator, also named Dan Sullivan. Trump described the situation as a "hoax by the Democrats."

"We are looking — I can’t say federal, but we are looking into it," Trump told Fox News on Tuesday. "It’s a disgrace."

Trump referred to the incumbent, Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, as "the real Dan Sullivan, a great senator from Alaska." He characterized the challenger, Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher, as someone who "knows nothing about politics" and whose candidacy is "another hoax by the Democrats."

Sen. Sullivan is seeking a third term in a race that polls indicate is close. He faces Democratic former congresswoman Mary Peltola. Dan J. Sullivan secured a spot on the ballot by finishing in the top four of the non-partisan August primary.

Republicans have accused Dan J. Sullivan of running a sham campaign intended to siphon votes from the incumbent. The challenger denies these accusations.

Last month, the watchdog group Americans for Public Trust alleged that Dan J. Sullivan, nicknamed "Decoy Dan," illegally coordinated with a liberal group, the 907 Initiative, to hurt Sen. Sullivan's re-election chances. According to the complaint, Democratic strategist Amber Lee worked for Dan J. Sullivan's campaign while also serving on the board of the 907 Initiative, which reportedly spent approximately $1.5 million on ads attacking Sen. Sullivan. Roughly $575,000 of this spending occurred in the 90 days before the primary.

The 907 Initiative has denied any wrongdoing or financial ties to Lee.

Earlier in the election cycle, Alaska's top election official removed "Decoy Dan" Sullivan from the ballot in June, citing evidence that his name and party affiliation were chosen to confuse voters. However, the Alaska Supreme Court later reinstated him, ruling that the state Division of Elections had used an excessively harsh remedy.

The RealClearPolitics polling average shows Peltola leading Sen. Sullivan by 1.4 percentage points. The outcome of the Nov. 3 election will be determined by ranked-choice voting, a system where candidates are eliminated until one secures over 50% of the vote.