President accuses Democratic Senate candidate of voter fraud after report links her campaign to recruitment of namesake challenger against Republican incumbent.
US President Donald Trump has called for the criminal prosecution and removal from the ballot of Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola and a fellow candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan, accusing them of participating in a scheme designed to confuse voters in Alaska’s closely watched US Senate race.
Trump’s demand came on Wednesday after a New York Times investigation reported that aides linked to Peltola’s campaign, along with officials from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, worked for months to recruit candidates who could draw votes away from Republican incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan. Among those recruited was a retired schoolteacher named Daniel J. Sullivan, who entered the race as an independent or undeclared candidate.
“They said they didn’t do it, and they did do it, and they got caught,” Trump told reporters. “And in fact, it was a plot by the Democrat Party, and frankly, they should be prosecuted. To me, that’s voter fraud at the highest level.”
Trump Targets Peltola Over Alaska Ballot Scheme:
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that Peltola “shouldn’t be allowed to run, and neither should the FAKE Dan Sullivan,” describing the alleged effort as “a fraud on the American public.” He later reiterated that both should face legal consequences.
Media report, based on text messages, interviews and documents, described an internal “ballot composition project” that included efforts to identify Alaskans named Dan Sullivan and persuade them to run. A Democratic operative reportedly travelled across the state, sometimes using a false name, to approach potential candidates. Peltola’s former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, told the newspaper that the candidate was “definitely aware” of the recruitment effort but was not directly involved in it.
Peltola’s campaign has denied any involvement. In a statement, it said: “The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. Like Mary, our campaign is focused on lowering costs and fixing the rigged system in DC and did not recruit any candidates into the race.”
Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan described the reported activity as “a scandal of the highest order,” accusing Peltola’s team and senior Democratic officials of running “a secret operation to trick Alaskans.” Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, also a Republican, ordered the state Department of Public Safety to investigate whether the alleged scheme violated Alaska law and whether criminal charges or civil penalties are warranted. “Deliberately tricking voters into casting their ballots for someone else strikes at the integrity of our elections,” Dunleavy said.
Alaska Ballot Controversy Escalates Ahead of US Midterms:
The controversy has intensified an already tight contest that could help decide control of the US Senate in the November 3 midterm elections. The Justice Department, acting at Trump’s direction, previously filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent certification of results if name confusion appears to have affected the outcome. Federal investigators have also issued new subpoenas related to the matter.
Alaska uses a ranked-choice voting system, and candidates can appear on the ballot without formal party vetting in some cases, a feature that critics say made the reported recruitment strategy possible. Both Dan Sullivans remain on the ballot alongside Peltola and at least one other candidate.
The episode underscores the high stakes and sharp partisan tensions surrounding the 2026 midterms, particularly in races that could tip the balance of power in Washington. Legal experts have noted that proving criminal intent in candidate recruitment efforts can be difficult under existing election laws, even as investigations proceed at both the state and federal levels.