Governor orders probe of Senate candidate recruitment

Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered the Department of Public Safety on Wednesday night to investigate whether a bid to place a second Dan Sullivan on Alaska's Nov. 3 ballot violated state law. "The evidence will determine what happens next," Dunleavy, a Republican, wrote on social media.

The investigation follows reporting by The New York Times that described an effort involving staff with Mary Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to find spoiler candidates who could draw votes from Republican U.S. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. The reporting was published ahead of the election. Elisa Rios, a longtime aide to Peltola who was dismissed from her position shortly before the August primary, told the Times that a Democratic operative from the Lower 48 searched for Dan Sullivans willing to challenge the senator. The Times reported that Rios sought to retract those comments last week as the article was being prepared for publication.

Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, registered as a Republican when he entered the race in the spring, drawing accusations from state and national Republicans that his campaign was designed to confuse voters. He has since changed his registration to undeclared, according to an absentee ballot request filed for the primary, the Alaska Beacon reported Monday. The Peltola campaign has repeatedly denied involvement in his candidacy and did not respond to a request for comment early Friday. Dan J. Sullivan has said he entered the race because he disagrees with the senator's policies and actions. He did not respond to a request for comment about the Times story.

Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, a Republican, determined earlier this year that Dan J. Sullivan's declaration of candidacy was not filed in good faith. The state Supreme Court later allowed him to remain on the ballot, upholding a lower court ruling that found no "preponderance of evidence" that the namesake candidate sought to mislead voters. The lower court also found that candidates have no constitutional obligation to demonstrate they are running in good faith. Dunleavy said the Times reporting supports the Division of Elections' June findings.

Republican President Donald Trump last week directed the Justice Department to file a lawsuit blocking certification of the Senate race if Sullivan narrowly loses. The suit also sought an investigation into whether votes cast for Dan J. Sullivan were intended for the incumbent. The U.S. government filed the suit against Alaska election officials and boards. The state asked a federal court this week to dismiss it, arguing the case "has no legal basis."

Dunleavy said deliberate confusion at the ballot box undermines elections. "Alaskans have a fundamental right to vote for the candidate they actually intend to support," he said. Dunleavy is term-limited, and a new governor takes office Dec. 7.