DPS opens probe into Alaska Senate election allegations

The Alaska Department of Public Safety began an investigation on Thursday morning into alleged voter manipulation in the state’s U.S. Senate race. Gov. Mike Dunleavy requested the inquiry after a report in The New York Times detailed how operatives linked to Democratic nominee Mary Peltola spent months recruiting candidates. The goal, according to the report, was to peel votes away from incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan.

President Donald Trump commented on the findings in remarks aired by CNN. He stated that the newspaper released an incredible story about the creation of a fake candidate. By Thursday afternoon, the Department of Public Safety confirmed the investigation via email. The agency noted it is examining the alleged conduct outlined in the recent article.

Alaska State Troopers said they are committed to enforcing criminal laws that protect election integrity. The statement said the department will work with the Alaska Department of Law to examine the facts. It added that anyone found to have violated state law will be held accountable.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski discussed the allegations with Alaska’s News Source on Wednesday afternoon in Fairbanks. Murkowski has previously endorsed Peltola in her re-election campaign for the U.S. House, which she lost to Nick Begich. She called the situation hard to handle because it involves calling out a friend and her campaign.

“We should be a state, and a place, where we respect not only our election laws, but we know better than to engage in manipulative ballot stacking,” Murkowski said. She described the findings as disturbing and expressed hope for honest answers from Peltola regarding the full background of the events.

Gov. Dunleavy posted a statement on his X page Wednesday night. He called the allegations disturbing and invoked the right of Alaskans to vote for their intended candidate. He argued that deliberately tricking voters into casting ballots for someone else strikes at the integrity of elections.

The Alaskans for Mary campaign issued a statement Wednesday evening to Alaska’s News Source. A spokesperson did not return an email sent on Thursday. The statement claimed the campaign had no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. It noted that the Republican party has been caught multiple times propping up third party spoiler candidates in Alaska.

A lawsuit filed by President Trump’s Justice Department seeks to block the certification of the U.S. Senate race in Alaska. The suit asks the state to refrain from certifying any result impacted by voter confusion. It cites a claim that a man from Petersburg entered the race to confuse voters and steal votes to help Peltola win. This follows months of conflict between Sen. Sullivan and another candidate from Petersburg named Dan J. Sullivan on the same ballot. Peltola was photographed in a parking lot in Homer on Tuesday evening after an interview request was not granted. She said she has confidence in Alaskan voters and believes the rule of law will sort the matter out.