State Troopers, DOJ Look at Peltola Campaign Over Duplicate Sullivan Name

ANCHORAGE, Alaska: Alaska state troopers and the U.S. Department of Justice are examining whether Mary Peltola's Senate campaign worked to place a candidate named Dan J. Sullivan on the ballot alongside Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy posted an order Wednesday night directing the state to review whether the reported activity violated Alaska law and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted. "The evidence will determine what happens next," Dunleavy wrote. He added, "Anyone or any organization found to have broken the law must be held accountable."

The inquiry follows a New York Times report saying members of Peltola's campaign recruited people named Dan Sullivan to run for the Senate beginning in summer 2025. The report draws on 12 former campaign staffers and former campaign manager Elisa Rios. Rios asked before publication to have her statements redacted and the Times declined.

Peltola's campaign denies any connection. "The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign," a spokesperson said in a written statement Wednesday.

Austin McDaniel, deputy commissioner of the Department of Public Safety, said Thursday that state troopers are committed to the fair and impartial enforcement of Alaska's criminal laws, including those covering election integrity. He said the department will work with the Alaska Department of Law "to ensure that the facts are thoroughly examined and that anyone found to have violated state law is held accountable."

President Donald Trump has also raised prosecution. "This is Voter Fraud at the Highest Level, and the Dumocrat Candidate, who was involved in the scheme, Mary Peltola, should be removed from the Ballot and prosecuted," Trump said. "So should the FAKE Dan Sullivan. Nothing else will do!"

Scott Kendall, an elections attorney, said Alaska's election offense statutes do not reach the conduct described in the report, assuming the facts are accurate and no others emerge. "I have to caveat all of this and say, I assume that this would be assuming that the facts in that article are true," Kendall said. "But if you take for granted that those facts are true and that there are no other facts, then at least under Alaska election offenses .. I do not see that the law was broken." He called the facts "very unsavory."

Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage and House Judiciary Chair, said the investigation has no merit. "This has been litigated since June," Gray said, referring to hearings he held over the summer when the elections division removed Dan J. Sullivan from the ballot. "All of this attention suddenly on Mary Peltola, four days before the election, is political in nature. It is designed to hurt her chances."

Don Palmer, senior legal fellow at The Heritage Foundation, said the report does not establish wrongdoing but does warrant a look. "When you read those texts and emails, it's pretty shocking that they're very open about what they're trying to do and so there may be evidence that witnesses were dissuaded from testing or there was other intent involved or money that was transferred," Palmer said. The report does not allege coercion or bribery.

The Department of Justice has filed suit asking the state not to certify the election because of voter confusion over the two Sullivans. Kendall predicted the case would be dismissed within days. "There's just no federal case here," Kendall said.

Amber Lee, who Dan J. Sullivan confirmed was involved in his candidacy, has worked for Democratic candidates in Anchorage and state legislative races and supports Peltola. She sits on the board of the 907 Initiative. "907 Initiative had no involvement in Dan J Sullivan's candidacy," president Aubrey Wieber said in September. "Amber is a board member but does not direct independent expenditure activity."

Alaska's News Source has not independently verified the claims in the New York Times report. Dunleavy's office did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday night or Thursday morning. Dan J. Sullivan did not answer a phone call Thursday.