Two Dan Sullivans on Alaska Ballot

The New York Times reported on Wednesday that the campaign of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola collaborated with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to recruit a rival candidate with the same name as the incumbent senator. The effort, internally labeled the ballot composition project, aimed to divide the Republican vote in the Alaska Senate race.

According to the report, the operation began in the summer of 2025. A Peltola staffer was instructed to scan state voter rolls for Alaskans named Dan Sullivan. The campaign and the DSCC both deny involvement in the recruitment process. However, the investigation cites internal documents and text messages as evidence of the plan.

The strategy resulted in the entry of Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, into the race. He registered as a Republican shortly before filing to run against incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. The Times identifies Democratic operative Jerid Kurtz as a central figure in the effort. He allegedly used the alias Zane and visited local pubs and diners to persuade conservative and independent voters to run.

Kurtz and other aides offered outside financial support to these potential recruits. They also pressured progressive candidate David Leslie to exit the race. Leslie’s departure cleared the way for drywall contractor Gerald Heikes to secure the fourth spot on Alaska’s ranked-choice ballot. This structure ensures that the Republican vote is split among multiple candidates.

Elisa Rios, Peltola’s former campaign manager who was fired in August, told the Times that Peltola was definitely aware of the project. Rios stated that Alaskan voters need the full picture when making their decisions. Although she attempted to retract her comments before publication, the newspaper noted that her account was supported by 11 other sources.

The report also details a discarded plan to create a third-party MAGA party to siphon votes from Sullivan. That idea was dropped in May. Jacquelyn Lopez, an attorney representing both the DSCC and Peltola, was included in discussions about this strategy. Internal messages show staff asking whether they needed to follow up with her regarding the MAGA party concept.

Peltola’s campaign stated that the Alaskans for Mary group did not recruit any candidates into the race. The DSCC said it had no role in recruiting Sullivan or any other Republican candidate. In a statement to Fox News, a DSCC spokesperson cited Republican tactics, including the recruitment of a prisoner with a New York address to run against Peltola.

President Donald Trump responded on Truth Social by calling the alleged scheme ELECTION FRAUD. He argued that Peltola and Dan J. Sullivan should not be allowed on the ballot. The White House highlighted a post by Communications Director Steven Cheung describing a secret, CORRUPT plan to stack Alaska's ballot. The report arrives days before Election Day, amid a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to block certification of the election if Sullivan loses due to voter confusion over the two identical names.