Sullivan Accuses Peltola of Ballot Scheme as Democrats Face Backlash

WHO:

NY Post - Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan accused Democratic rival Mary Peltola of scheming to trick Alaskan voters and said she had “total contempt” for Alaskans.

CNN - Peltola’s campaign denied wrongdoing in recruiting a second candidate named Dan Sullivan.

CNN - The second candidate was Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher; the incumbent is identified on the ballot as Dan S. Sullivan and as the Republican “incumbent.”

CNN - Alaska election officials spokesperson Sam Curtis said, “Placing candidates on the ballot is a matter of state law, not federal law.”

CNN - Election lawyer Ben Ginsberg said the episode was “remarkably politically clumsy and embarrassing” for Peltola’s campaign, but “there’s not an illegality here.” He said both parties have probably used “phantom candidates, ghost candidates.”

CNN - Attorney General Todd Blanche said of whether the candidate drama was illegal, “It certainly should be,” adding that an investigation and law enforcement were involved.

Fox News - Democratic strategist Adrienne Elrod dismissed the Alaska ballot scandal and compared it to Republican donors supporting Robert F. Kennedy Jr. against Joe Biden.

WHAT:

CNN - A New York Times report said Democrats aligned with Peltola tried to confuse voters by recruiting a second candidate with the same name as Sen. Dan Sullivan.

CNN - Trump called the alleged conduct “Voter Fraud at the Highest Level,” demanded that Peltola be “removed from the ballot and prosecuted,” and said he would recognize the midterm results only if he considered them fair.

CNN - The Department of Justice had filed suit to block certification of Alaska’s Senate result if Sullivan lost.

CNN - A state Supreme Court ruling declined to remove Daniel J. Sullivan from the ballot.

CNN - A New York Times/Siena poll reported Peltola leading Sullivan 51% to 45%.

CNN - Sullivan told Sean Hannity on Fox News that Peltola should “come clean,” alleging she worked with “DC insiders to trick Alaskans.”

WHERE:

CNN - The Senate race and ballot controversy are in Alaska; the state uses ranked-choice voting.

CNN - Sullivan made his comments on Fox News, speaking with Sean Hannity.

WHY:

CNN - Sullivan said he wanted to ensure “every single Alaskan knows about” the alleged scheme.

CNN - Republicans could use the report to argue Democrats tried to confuse voters and that their agenda does not work for Alaskans, according to former Trump adviser Bryan Lanza.

HOW:

CNN - The ballot distinguishes the candidates as Dan S. Sullivan, the Republican incumbent, and Daniel J. Sullivan.

CNN - Experts cited by CNN said ranked-choice voting could eventually direct votes intended for Sen. Sullivan to the intended recipient.

(UPDATED October 29, 2026 10:01 UTC)

Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan accused Democratic rival Mary Peltola of trying to confuse voters by recruiting another candidate with the same name, while Peltola’s campaign denied wrongdoing. The second candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, remains on the ballot after the state Supreme Court declined to remove him; election officials say ballot rules are governed by state law, and a lawyer said the episode was not illegal. President Trump called the allegations voter fraud and demanded Peltola be removed and prosecuted, while a poll showed her leading Sullivan 51% to 45% in the state’s ranked-choice Senate race.