Over 61,000 Alaskan Ballots Cast Amid Senate Name Dispute

More than 61,000 ballots were cast in Alaska as of Tuesday ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

President Donald Trump called on Wednesday for the criminal prosecution of Mary Peltola, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The president made the request after The New York Times published a report stating that Peltola's campaign was involved in recruiting a different candidate named Dan J. Sullivan. The retired schoolteacher from Petersburg is listed on the ranked choice ballot as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. with no party affiliation. Trump directed the Department of Justice to sue to block certification of the race if Peltola wins. He stated, “I think they should be prosecuted,” while responding to questions about the newspaper's findings.

Peltola's campaign described the media coverage as a distraction from key issues. In a video from a stop in Soldotna, she called the report a diversion intended to sell newspapers and subscriptions. She argued that Alaskans deserve a champion who lowers costs and puts the state first. The campaign issued a statement saying Peltola has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also denied involvement, despite the report citing text messages between DSCC staffers and the Peltola team.

Sen. Dan Sullivan pushed Peltola to explain the situation during a Wednesday night appearance on Fox News. He urged voters to look her in the eye and ask if she cheated. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican who endorsed Sullivan, released a statement saying Alaskans deserve the honest truth. She described the revelations as a pattern of lies and coverups. Dan J. Sullivan, the other candidate, has previously said he had zero contact with Peltola's campaign. He did not respond to a message seeking comment on Wednesday.

Legal experts noted that the new information will not change a recent Department of Justice lawsuit seeking to halt certification of a potential Peltola victory. Derek Muller, a Notre Dame law professor, said the presence of the second Sullivan on the ballot is a dirty trick but that the matter is now in the hands of voters. Earlier this year, a state elections official ruled Dan J. Sullivan ineligible for the primary ballot, but the Alaska Supreme Court reversed that decision. In 2024, a similar dispute allowed an out-of-state candidate to remain on a House ballot. The current general election ballot lists Sen. Sullivan as the Republican incumbent and the other candidate as an independent.

The New York Times report relied partly on interviews with Elisa Rios, Peltola's former campaign manager who was fired in August. The newspaper said Rios attempted to retract her comments last week. The Associated Press was unable to reach her immediately for comment. The race is one of several Senate contests expected to determine control of the chamber in the coming weeks.