Alaska governor launches probe into Dan Sullivan spoiler controversy
- Gov. Mike Dunleavy orders a state investigation into the Dan Sullivan spoiler controversy (F1, F12).
- Two candidates named Dan Sullivan appear on the ballot, risking voter confusion (F2, F15, F17).
- Mary Peltola calls the New York Times story a distraction while her opponent accuses her of gaslighting (F4, F6).
- The DOJ seeks to delay certification, but experts say the case is weak (F8, F9).
- Alaska’s ranked‑choice voting system may lessen confusion and is itself on the ballot (F18, F19).
On Wednesday, October 29, 2026, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy directed a probe into a suspected spoiler candidate plot after a New York Times report regarding the state’s U.S. Senate race. The New York Times reported that Democratic campaign operatives recruited a second candidate named Dan Sullivan to siphon support from the Republican incumbent. ABC7 WWSB reported that Mary Peltola’s campaign participated in this recruitment effort.
Dunleavy directed the state Department of Public Safety to determine if the scheme violated Alaska law and whether criminal or civil action is necessary. CBS 17 previously detailed the litigation surrounding the two candidates sharing the same name. The outcome of this election could determine which party controls the U.S. Senate next year, as ICT News reported that the race has tightened.
Two Dan Sullivans on the ballot could confuse voters
The non-incumbent Dan Sullivan advanced to the general election after placing in the top four of Alaska’s nonpartisan primary. The official ballot identifies the Republican incumbent to distinguish between the two candidates. The non-incumbent Sullivan declined requests for comment from Alaska Public Media, stating previously that his decision to run was his own.
Experts suggested the presence of a second Sullivan could reduce voter confusion. Because Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, some voters might rank both Sullivans and skip Peltola. The general-election ballot also includes the question of whether Alaska will retain this ranked-choice system.
Campaigns and pundits trade accusations and denials
Mary Peltola dismissed reports of a spoiler scheme as a distraction on Wednesday. Nate Adams, a spokesperson for Senator Dan Sullivan, countered that Peltola and her campaign spent months gaslighting Alaskans by denying the scheme.
Former President Donald Trump labeled the Alaska findings as "Voter Fraud at the Highest Level" in an online post on Wednesday.
Some voters have drawn comparisons between the Sullivan case and Republican spending for a federal prisoner in New York who appears on the Alaska House ballot. Alaska Public Media reported mixed reactions among residents, with some expressing frustration that the controversy distracts from other issues and others remaining skeptical that voters would actually be confused.
Legal battles: DOJ request, court rulings and lawsuits
The Trump administration filed a lawsuit on October 23 aiming to prevent a possible Democratic victory in the Alaska Senate race. EL PAÍS English described the federal lawsuit, which features two candidates named Dan Sullivan and an unconventional Democrat, as central to the crucial Senate battle.
In June, the Alaska Supreme Court decided that the non-incumbent Dan Sullivan was permitted to be listed on the general-election ballot. Citing possible voter confusion caused by the second candidate on the ballot, the Justice Department requested last week that a court postpone certification should the incumbent Sullivan be defeated by a narrow margin.
Justice Department officials filed an amended complaint citing new reporting from the Times, stating the story expands their options for investigating the race. Election-law experts derided the department's case as weak, noting that the Constitution grants states control over elections.
Senate control hangs on Alaska’s outcome
Democrats have refuted any connection to the non-incumbent Sullivan’s candidacy. Both the campaign of Mary Peltola and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee reiterated those denials after the Times story was published.
NPR reporters Hansi Lo Wang and Ryan Lucas contributed to the reporting.
What’s next for Alaska’s Senate race
The governor of Alaska ordered an investigation into the Senate campaign of Mary Peltola concerning the spoiler candidate controversy.
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