Peltola Campaign Denies NYT Report on Candidate Recruitment Effort

Peltola Campaign Denies NYT Report on Candidate Recruitment Effort

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Secret Ballot-Stacking Allegations Surface in High-Stakes Alaska Senate Race

An investigation published by the New York Times reveals that Democratic campaign aides and national operatives worked to recruit a duplicate candidate named Dan Sullivan into Alaska’s fiercely contested U.S. Senate race. With early voting already underway and less than a week remaining before Election Day, the report has drawn mixed reactions from voters across the state.

The Alaska Senate contest stands as one of a few nationwide that could decide which party controls the chamber. The New York Times indicated that Peltola’s team participated in an initiative aimed at placing a second Dan Sullivan on the ballot to siphon supporters away from the sitting Republican incumbent, Sen. Dan Sullivan. Staff members on the campaign allegedly directed a Peltola employee to track down every individual possible in Alaska who shared the name Dan Sullivan. That search culminated when retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan of Petersburg announced his candidacy.

Campaign Denials and Immediate Political Fallout

While campaigning in Soldotna on Wednesday, Peltola dismissed the report as a mere distraction and her team issued a denial regarding any participation. The Petersburg candidate did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday, though he has previously said he had no connection to Peltola.

The report prompted Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski—who backed Sen. Sullivan but previously threw her support behind Peltola—to issue a statement demanding transparency from Peltola.

Alaskans deserve the honest truth from Mary and her campaign—what has been revealed is a pattern of lies and coverups and a culture of deception that belongs nowhere in our elections or among our elected officials.

According to Adams, Mary Peltola, along with her campaign and top advisers, conspired with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, national Democratic attorneys, and operatives within Alaska to enlist candidates intended to intentionally mislead and confuse the electorate, subsequently denying the actions repeatedly.

Republican President Donald Trump — who has dubbed the Petersburg candidate “Decoy Dan” — asserted that Peltola ought to be forced out of the race and face criminal prosecution, though he specified no particular charges.

Voter Reactions Range from Resignation to Outrage

Among everyday Alaskans, the report has elicited a mixed response. Keven Kleweno, a registered Republican who plans to vote for Peltola, noted that the news felt unsurprising given Republicans’ prior claims of Democratic involvement in Dan J. Sullivan’s campaign. However, he suggested that Elisa Rios, Peltola’s former campaign manager who spoke to the Times about the campaign’s involvement, was a disgruntled ex-employee who

Adam Lees, a nonpartisan Anchorage voter who supports Peltola, acknowledged that the reported effort to stack the ballot is “not the best look.” Still, he expressed confidence in the electorate. “It does give — I think as some of the kids would describe it — icky vibes,” Lees said. “But at the same time, I think voters are intelligent and can figure out how to rank and can figure out which Dan Sullivan is their person.”

Other voters drew parallels to past maneuvers. Amber McClelland, a registered Democrat living in Anchorage, called the tactic “messed up” but pointed out that in the past, Republicans have done everything that they can do to win, including cheat.

Local Skepticism and the Frustration Over Distractions

In Petersburg, residents who have known Dan J. Sullivan for decades struggled to reconcile the picture the Times painted with the man they know. Erica Kludt-Painter rejected the notion that he acted as a pawn in a national conspiracy, describing him as a man of integrity who cares about his community. Petersburg Vice Mayor Jeigh Stanton-Gregor voiced disappointment in the article, noting that he would prefer the media discuss substantive issues that impact people’s lives, such as gas prices or foreign wars, rather than a distant three- or four-place candidate.

Fairbanks doctoral student Eric Evans shared that frustration, noting that the controversy detracts from critical issues such as the war with Iran. As voters weigh their options in the final days of the election cycle, the question remains whether this revelation will sway enough minds to alter the balance of power in Washington.

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