Alaska governor raises possibility of withholding Senate result certification
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said on October 29 that the state might decline to certify the U.S. Senate race’s outcome if Democrat Mary Peltola wins. His remarks came days before Election Day, as state officials investigate allegations that Democrats recruited a candidate named Dan J. Sullivan to draw votes from Republican incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.
Asked whether he would certify the results if his preferred candidate lost, Dunleavy said, “We’re going to ensure that we aren’t going to send a scam to Washington.” He did not give a direct assurance that he would certify a Peltola victory.
The governor said on October 28 that he had launched a probe to determine whether Peltola’s campaign could incur criminal or civil sanctions. Peltola has denied knowing about the alleged scheme and said she was “not interested in tricking voters.”
The allegations have drawn sharp criticism from Republicans. Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha called the claims that Democrats tried to manipulate the race “so blatantly obvious,” while faulting media coverage of the investigation. The dispute now includes both the allegations about the campaign and Dunleavy’s stated willingness to consider withholding certification if Peltola wins.
Dunleavy raises threat to withhold Alaska voters’ Senate result
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has put the legitimacy of a potential Democratic victory in question, saying on October 29 that the state could withhold certification if Mary Peltola wins the Senate race. His statement came days before Election Day, while an investigation proceeds into allegations that Democrats recruited Dan J. Sullivan, a candidate sharing the incumbent Republican senator’s name.
Asked whether he would certify the result if his preferred candidate lost, Dunleavy said, “We’re going to ensure that we aren’t going to send a scam to Washington.” He offered no direct assurance that a Peltola victory would be certified.
The governor had said on October 28 that he launched an inquiry to determine if Peltola’s campaign could incur criminal or civil sanctions. Peltola has denied knowing of the alleged scheme and said she was “not interested in tricking voters.”
The stakes are not limited to the allegation against the campaign: Dunleavy’s comments raise the prospect that a state official could impede certification if voters choose Peltola. The accusations remain under investigation, while Republicans have condemned the alleged recruitment effort. Joe Concha called it an obvious attempt to cheat and criticized media treatment of the inquiry.
Alaska probes alleged Senate-race scheme as governor weighs certification
Alaska is investigating allegations of an effort to manipulate a Senate contest, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy says the state could withhold certification if Democrat Mary Peltola wins. The controversy centers on claims that Democrats recruited Dan J. Sullivan, whose name matches that of Republican incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.
Dunleavy said on October 29 that the state would not send what he called a “scam” to Washington. Asked whether he would certify the result if his preferred candidate lost, he did not give a direct assurance that he would certify a Peltola victory.
On October 28, Dunleavy said he had initiated a review to determine whether Peltola’s campaign could be subject to criminal or civil sanctions. Peltola has denied knowledge of the alleged scheme and said she was “not interested in tricking voters.”
Joe Concha criticized media coverage of the inquiry and described the alleged effort as an obvious attempt to cheat. The investigation and the governor’s comments have made the integrity of the race a central issue in the final days before Election Day. The allegations are not a finding of wrongdoing, and Peltola denies knowing about them.
Reported by MSNBC, The Washington Examiner.
