Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered a state investigation into whether recruiting a same-named Senate challenger violated election law, putting an allegation of vote-splitting under scrutiny days before the Nov. 3 election.
Retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan has said he entered the Senate race independently. The Times described an effort involving several candidates. It identified retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan, whose name matches the incumbent senator’s, among those Peltola aides allegedly encouraged to run. Elisa Rios, Peltola’s former campaign manager, told the newspaper that Peltola knew about the effort but was not directly involved.
The Times said its findings did not establish that a crime had occurred. It noted that both parties have used vote-splitting tactics in Alaska, where such candidate recruitment is generally legal.
Dunleavy said in a Wednesday post on X that he had directed the Alaska Department of Public Safety to examine possible state-law violations and consider what legal action, if any, could follow. President Donald Trump called for Peltola and Daniel J. Sullivan to be removed from the ballot and urged prosecution of Peltola and alleged associates.
The U.S. Department of Justice is also seeking a conditional pause in Alaska’s Senate election certification if Peltola narrowly defeats Dan Sullivan and votes for Daniel J. Sullivan could have changed the result. Alaska has asked a federal judge to dismiss the case, arguing it has no legal basis. In June, the Alaska Supreme Court left Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot after Republicans challenged his candidacy. The Senate election is scheduled for Nov. 3.
