Alaska Probe and Ballot Fight Intensify Before Senate Election
On October 30, Alaska’s top federal prosecutor confirmed a criminal investigation into a Senate candidate whose name resembles Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman said the inquiry had been underway for months and urged people with relevant information to contact investigators. He did not identify possible offenses or targets, and said he had not spoken with the White House about the investigation.
The Justice Department separately asked a judge to require state officials to preserve and separate ballots ranking challenger Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. The department said it wanted to examine whether voters had confused him with the senator. It also asked the court to compel answers from Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in a lawsuit seeking to prevent certification if the incumbent loses. The department requested a ruling by Monday.
State attorneys oppose the request, arguing that ballots are mixed together and cannot be separated without threatening ballot secrecy. They say officials already distinguish the candidates: the senator appears as Dan S. Sullivan, a Republican incumbent, whereas the challenger appears as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. with no party affiliation. They also argue ranked-choice voting lets voters rank both men.
Peltola has denied knowing about efforts to recruit the challenger and said she was not interested in misleading voters. Democrats and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. have also denied that he was recruited at their behest. President Donald Trump said he directed the Justice Department to bring its lawsuit and called for Peltola and the challenger to be prosecuted. The race, which could affect control of the Senate, is scheduled for a ranked-choice vote on Tuesday.
DOJ Escalates Alaska Ballot Fight Days Before Senate Vote
On October 30, the Justice Department asked a judge to set aside ballots ranking a challenger named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., saying it wants to investigate whether voters mistook him for Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The request comes days before a consequential Alaska Senate election, alongside a criminal probe that federal officials say has been active for months.
The department is also seeking answers from Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in a lawsuit that could block certification if the sitting senator is defeated. Trump said he had instructed the department to file the case. The government wants a court decision by Monday, immediately before Tuesday’s vote.
Alaska officials say the candidates are distinguished on the ballot: Dan S. Sullivan is identified as the Republican incumbent, and the challenger’s entry reads Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., with no party affiliation. State attorneys say ballots are commingled and cannot be separated without risking ballot secrecy. They also argue ranked-choice voting allows people to rank both candidates.
Peltola has denied knowing about the effort to recruit the challenger, and Democrats and the challenger have denied a campaign trick. Heyman said he has had no White House contact about the investigation. The public disclosure of a criminal probe so near an election, alongside the federal effort to preserve ballots, puts the integrity of the process under scrutiny as voters prepare to decide a race that could shape Senate control.
Alaska Officials Seek Answers Over Potential Ballot Confusion
On October 30, federal authorities confirmed a criminal investigation into Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., whose name resembles that of Alaska’s Republican senator, Dan Sullivan. The Justice Department says it wants ballots ranking the challenger preserved so investigators can assess whether voters were confused. The request comes just before a Senate election that could determine control of the chamber.
The department also seeks responses from Mary Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in a lawsuit aimed at preventing certification if the incumbent loses. President Donald Trump says he told the department to bring the case. Prosecutors asked for a ruling by Monday, ahead of Tuesday’s ranked-choice election.
State attorneys say officials already made the candidates distinct on the ballot: the senator is identified as a Republican incumbent, while Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. is listed without a party affiliation. They argue ballots are mixed together and cannot be separated without compromising secrecy, and say ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank both men. The court must weigh those objections against the federal government’s concern that the challenger’s candidacy could mislead voters.
Peltola says she knew nothing about recruiting the challenger and has denied trying to trick voters. Democrats and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. also deny that he was running at their behest. Heyman said the criminal inquiry had been underway for months, while declining to name potential offenses or targets. He also said he had not discussed it with the White House.
Reported by ClickOnDetroit WDIV, The Philadelphia Inquirer, CNN, MSNBC, Denver7.
