New York Times: Peltola Campaign and DSCC Aides Worked to Recruit Second “Dan Sullivan”

The New York Times reported Wednesday that aides to Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola and senior staff at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee participated in efforts to recruit a man named Daniel J. Sullivan to appear on the Alaska ballot alongside incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. Former Peltola campaign manager Elisa Rios, who was fired in August, told the Times that Peltola was “definitely aware” of the project though not personally involved.

The Times cited interviews, text messages, and documents prepared for a potential lawsuit. Rios said the group also sought other potential spoilers to dilute support for the incumbent. An operative ultimately recruited the Petersburg retiree Dan J. Sullivan, who switched his registration to Republican shortly before the filing deadline.

Peltola’s campaign, Alaskans for Mary, stated it “has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign and did not recruit any candidates.” The DSCC likewise denied involvement. Sen. Sullivan’s campaign said Peltola, her team, and national Democrats “colluded… to recruit candidates to deliberately deceive and confuse voters, and then repeatedly lied about it.”

The Justice Department previously filed suit in federal court in Alaska seeking to block certification of any Senate result that may have been affected by voter confusion pending further investigation. President Trump has called for legal and political consequences against the Democrats involved.

The race is among those that could determine Senate control. Alaska uses ranked-choice voting. Dan J. Sullivan has said he entered of his own volition and had no contact with Peltola’s campaign.