Alaska Ballot Dispute: President seeks legal action against Senate rivals

President Donald Trump requested the disqualification and prosecution of two candidates in the upcoming Alaska Senate race on Wednesday. His demand, issued days before the November 3 election, aims to remove Democrat Mary Peltola and Daniel J Sullivan Jr from the ballot.

The President accused the Democratic Party of executing a coordinated effort to confuse voters. In posts on Truth Social, he labeled the strategy "Voter Fraud at the Highest Level" and claimed party officials had made false statements under oath. This assertion follows a New York Times investigation detailing attempts to recruit candidates who could divide the Republican vote.

The newspaper reported that the strategy began in 2025 when a Peltola aide searched for residents with the name Dan Sullivan. One identified candidate is a retired teacher sharing the name of Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. The Times identified Jerid Kurtz, a Democratic operative, as a key recruiter who approached potential candidates, sometimes using a false name. Another Democrat withdrew after being contacted by Kurtz, creating a space for Republican Gerald Heikes, who stated he also received encouragement to enter the race.

Elisa Rios, Peltola’s former campaign manager, told the Times that Peltola was aware of the recruiting effort but did not personally participate. Rios later attempted to retract these comments, although the newspaper noted that other evidence supported its findings. Both Peltola’s team and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee denied recruiting candidates, with Peltola’s campaign asserting that external pressure from Washington would not end her bid.

Senator Sullivan, appearing on Fox News on Wednesday, accused Peltola of misleading the electorate. The Times noted that recruiting candidates to split an opponent’s vote is a legal practice known as ballot stacking, used by both parties in Alaska. The race features four candidates in a ranked-choice system where voters list preferences. The ballot designates Senator Sullivan as the incumbent Republican, while the retired teacher runs as an independent. Alaska’s Supreme Court affirmed the teacher’s right to run in June.

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against Alaska last week to delay the certification of results if Senator Sullivan loses and the independent candidate’s votes affect the final tally. State officials have asked the court to dismiss the case, contending the federal government lacks legal grounds for the intervention.