Alaska Spoiler Allegations Draw Democratic Strategist’s Defense
Elrod said on an MS NOW panel that efforts to influence vote shares through third-party candidates are common. She compared the Alaska allegations with Republican donors’ backing of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s 2024 White House campaign, which she said was intended to draw voters from Joe Biden. Elrod added that she had not read the account detailing the Alaska allegations.
The allegations center on Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher and one of four candidates on Alaska’s ranked-choice Senate ballot. Democratic operatives are alleged to have sought out someone named Dan Sullivan to run against Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, potentially diverting votes and helping Peltola.
Peltola’s former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, said Peltola was not directly involved but was aware of the effort. Peltola’s campaign has denied involvement in Daniel Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy. The allegations also describe attempts to recruit other potential spoiler candidates.
MS NOW anchor Peter Alexander said the conduct was not illegal and noted that the incumbent is identified as such on the ballot. The Justice Department has sued Alaska, seeking to prevent certification if the incumbent loses and votes for the similarly named candidate might have altered the result.
Spoiler Candidate Tactics Are Part of Hard-Fought Campaigns
Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod pushed back against the uproar over Alaska’s Senate race, saying campaigns have long used tactics intended to shift votes. She cited Republican donors’ support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in 2024, arguing they hoped his candidacy would pull support from Joe Biden. Elrod said she had not read the details of the Alaska allegations.
The allegations say Democratic operatives sought to recruit Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher, to run against Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan. The four-candidate ranked-choice ballot could make votes for the similarly named candidate consequential, potentially helping Democrat Mary Peltola.
Peltola’s former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, said Peltola was not directly involved but was aware of the effort. Peltola’s campaign has denied involvement in Daniel Sullivan Jr.’s candidacy. The allegations also describe outreach to other potential spoiler candidates.
MS NOW anchor Peter Alexander said the conduct was not illegal and pointed to the ballot’s incumbent label. The Justice Department has sued Alaska, seeking to stop certification if votes cast for the similarly named Sullivan might have changed the incumbent’s loss. Treating campaign tactics as a crisis while overlooking similar efforts by Republicans invites a double standard.
Alaska Spoiler Allegations Deserve More Than a Shrug
A Democratic strategist waved away allegations of a scheme aimed at Alaska’s Senate race as ordinary campaign behavior, even while acknowledging she had not read the details. Adrienne Elrod’s comparison to Republican donors’ support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. does not resolve the central question: whether operatives tried to exploit confusion between two candidates named Dan Sullivan.
The allegations describe an effort to recruit Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher, to run against Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan. He is one of four candidates on Alaska’s ranked-choice ballot, and votes for him could affect the incumbent’s chances and benefit Democrat Mary Peltola.
Peltola’s former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, said Peltola was not directly involved but was aware. Peltola’s campaign has denied involvement in the candidacy, while the allegations describe a broader effort to recruit other possible spoiler candidates.
MS NOW anchor Peter Alexander said the conduct was not illegal and noted the ballot identifies the incumbent. But the Justice Department has sued Alaska, seeking to block certification if ballots cast for the similarly named candidate might have altered the result. Calling the matter routine should not substitute for scrutiny of tactics that could affect voters’ choices.
Reported by Fox News, New York Post, Twitchy.
