Report Says Peltola Allies and DSCC Aides Helped Recruit Second Sullivan in Alaska Senate Race

People working with Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola's campaign and senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee took part in efforts to recruit a man named Daniel J. Sullivan into the Alaska Senate race, The New York Times reported Wednesday. The aim, according to the report, was to pull votes away from Republican incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.

The Times cited interviews, texts and documents prepared for a potential lawsuit against Peltola's campaign. It reported that "not only did Ms. Peltola's team work with people trying to recruit Mr. Sullivan to run for Senate, but the effort was much broader." The newspaper said the group also worked to coax other would-be spoilers into the race to dilute the incumbent's support and help the Democrat win.

Peltola's former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, told the Times that Peltola was not directly involved in the project but was "definitely aware." The Times reported that Rios was fired in August and that she said "Alaskan voters need to know" about the effort. Last week, Rios tried to retract her statements, writing that she was "not willing to be a source for any story in any capacity." The Times said it told her she would be included in its article and that her interviews were consistent with its other reporting.

Peltola's campaign and the DSCC denied taking part in any such effort. The campaign said in a statement to CNBC that it "has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign." A DSCC spokesperson said the committee "is not involved with Dan J. Sullivan," and pointed to Republican recruitment of third-party and dark horse candidates, including a prisoner with a New York address who ran against Peltola and nearly half a million dollars spent to place an Arizona resident on the Alaska ballot. The Times noted that ballot-stacking tactics are common, generally considered legal, and have been used by both parties in Alaska.

The report follows a Department of Justice lawsuit filed days earlier. It alleges the campaign of the challenger Sullivan was meant to act as a spoiler through voter confusion. The DOJ asked a federal judge in Alaska to block certification of any Senate result that may be affected, pending an investigation into whether votes for Daniel J. Sullivan were meant for the senator. President Donald Trump has said he ordered the suit. After the Times report, he demanded on Truth Social that both Peltola and Daniel J. Sullivan be removed from the ballot, claiming Democrats acted "illegally."

Peltola's campaign, the DSCC and Alaska election officials have asked Judge Sharon Gleason to dismiss the case before Election Day on Nov. 3. The League of Women Voters of Alaska and Common Cause have sought to intervene in opposition. Alaska officials argue the DOJ "lacks authority to intervene in state elections at all," and say the Division of Elections has taken significant steps to distinguish the two candidates. Gleason fast-tracked the case Monday evening, raising the chance of a ruling before the election.

Daniel J. Sullivan won a legal fight at the Alaska Supreme Court to appear on the nonpartisan primary ballot, over objections from state election officials who said he would confuse voters. He earned one of four spots on the general election ballot, where he is listed as "Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr." The incumbent appears below as Sullivan, Dan. S., marked "Registered Republican, incumbent." Peltola, a former U.S. House member, is the only Democrat on the ballot.

Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, so voters can rank both Sullivans, and a vote for the challenger could transfer to the incumbent if he is eliminated in the first round. The outcome could decide whether Democrats regain a Senate majority or Republicans keep theirs.