Trump slams Peltola campaign over two Sullivans on Alaska ballot

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - President Donald Trump and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) are accusing Democrats of intentionally trying to confuse Alaska voters, after two candidates named Dan Sullivan appeared on the state’s midterm election ballot for U.S. Senate.

Trump is among several Republicans criticizing Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola, accusing her of perpetuating a fraud on Alaska voters.

The New York Times reported Wednesday that campaign staffers for Peltola, a former Alaska congresswoman now running for the U.S. Senate, tried to recruit a candidate with the same name as Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.

The effort is not illegal. However, the reports have led Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, to order an investigation into alleged election manipulation.

Trump commented on the controversy Thursday before leaving for South Carolina.

“So nobody’s going to know what to do. That’s a fraud. And it shouldn’t be allowed to happen. And it was done in conjunction with Schumer and everybody else. It’s an absolute, it’s called voter fraud,” Trump said.

Vice President JD Vance echoed the president’s comments Thursday.

“It’s disgraceful, so whether it’s criminal or not, she certainly has committed, I think, a great moral failing and hopefully the voters of Alaska punish her,” Vance said.

In a statement, Peltola’s campaign said it had “no involvement with either Sullivan campaign.”

Alaska’s highest state court earlier ruled that both men should remain on the ballot.

On the ballot, Daniel J. Sullivan appears with no modifiers. Daniel S. Sullivan is listed with the labels incumbent and Republican next to his name.

Alaska’s elections are determined by ranked choice voting. If no candidate wins a majority in the Senate race after Tuesday’s midterm elections, the ranked choices will be tallied.

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) the chair of the House Oversight Committee announced Thursday he is launching an investigation into whether the Peltola campaign tried to intentionally confuse voters. He issued a letter requesting in-person testimony from key Peltola staffers next week.