Alaska Governor Orders Probe Into Senate Ballot Name Conflict
State authorities will investigate if a retired teacher's candidacy for the U.S. Senate violated local election rules just days before voting begins.
By Sienna Foster ·
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered the Department of Public Safety to investigate whether state laws were broken during the recruitment of an independent Senate candidate.
The directive came after Vice President JD Vance publicly called for an investigation into allegations surrounding Democratic candidate Mary Peltola.
The dispute centers on Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher who entered the race as an independent.
His name closely resembles that of Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan, who is seeking reelection against Peltola.
Critics argue that having a candidate with the same first and last name as the sitting senator on the ballot could confuse voters in the November 3 election.
Initial reporting suggested that people associated with Peltola’s campaign helped recruit Sullivan Jr.
Alaska election officials originally ruled Sullivan Jr. ineligible, deciding that his bid was intended to mislead the public.
The Alaska Supreme Court reversed that decision and allowed him to remain on the ballot.
President Donald Trump has also called for criminal prosecution in the matter, although no charges have been filed against Peltola or her campaign.
Vance supported the push to determine if unlawful activity occurred during the independent candidate’s entry into the race.
Peltola has rejected accusations of wrongdoing, describing the controversy as a distraction from issues facing Alaska voters.
A group supporting her campaign denied involvement in Sullivan Jr.’s bid, and Sullivan Jr. himself stated he did not coordinate with Peltola’s team.
Source: WABC · original report published
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