Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized an alleged effort to draw votes from Alaska’s Republican Senate incumbent but opposed federal intervention as the Justice Department appealed the dismissal of its election lawsuit.
In a Nov. 1 interview on CBS’s Face the Nation, Sanders called the reported tactic “pretty dumb” but said it was not illegal. He said candidates have tried to pull votes from opponents in other elections and argued that Alaska voters should decide this race.
The New York Times reported that people associated with Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee helped recruit candidates, including Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. The alleged aim was to draw support away from Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, whose name resembles the challenger’s. The recruitment allegation has not been established by a court.
Peltola told the Associated Press she knew of no other candidate on the ballot besides herself and the incumbent. Former campaign manager Elisa Rios told the Times that Peltola was aware of the effort, though the newspaper said Rios later sought to retract her statements. Sullivan Jr. has denied acting at Democrats’ behest. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered a state investigation into the alleged recruitment.
The Justice Department’s lawsuit sought a conditional pause in certification if the incumbent lost and counting votes cast for Sullivan Jr. as votes for the senator would change the result. It also sought an inquiry into whether voters who selected Sullivan Jr. intended to vote for the incumbent.
On Nov. 1, U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed the case for lack of standing, ruling that the requested relief could not remedy the alleged harm. She found that the government had offered no workable way to investigate voter intent while protecting ballot secrecy. Her order did not decide whether the alleged recruitment occurred. The Justice Department filed a notice of appeal.
Alaska’s candidate list names Peltola, both Sullivans and Gerald L. Heikes in the Senate race. The election is scheduled for Nov. 3.
