Trump Calls for Removal of Alaska Senate Candidates Over Alleged Ballot‑Stacking Scheme

Summary

Former President Donald Trump has urged Alaska’s election officials to disqualify Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola and Republican Dan Sullivan Jr. after a New York Times report alleged that Peltola’s campaign recruited a namesake to split the vote. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered a state‑level investigation into whether the alleged scheme violates state law.

Confirmed facts

• Governor’s action: Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced on Thursday that the Department of Public Safety will investigate the alleged ballot‑stacking, citing a June investigation by the state election board and a recent New York Times report.
• Trump’s demand: In Truth Social posts, Trump described the alleged operation as “voter fraud at the highest level” and called for Peltola and Dan Sullivan Jr. to be removed from the ballot and prosecuted.
• Election context: The Senate race is decided by ranked‑choice voting; the November 3 election could affect control of the U.S. Senate.
• Legal background: The Alaska Supreme Court upheld Sullivan Jr.’s right to run in June. The Justice Department has filed a separate lawsuit seeking to delay certification of the results if the alleged scheme altered the outcome.

Reported claims (unverified)

• Alleged recruitment: The New York Times reported that aides to Peltola’s campaign, possibly with help from Democratic operative Jerid Kurtz, identified Alaskans named Dan Sullivan and approached them to run, hoping to split the incumbent Republican’s vote.
• Campaign knowledge: Peltola’s former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, told the Times that Peltola was aware of the effort but did not directly coordinate it. Rios later attempted to withdraw her statements.
• Legal assessment: Ballot‑stacking—recruiting candidates to dilute an opponent’s support—is generally legal in Alaska, though the governor’s probe will determine if any statutes were breached.

Practical implications

• For voters: Alaska’s ranked‑choice system means that if a voter’s first‑choice candidate is eliminated, their vote transfers to the next preference. The presence of a namesake could cause confusion, especially among voters unfamiliar with the candidates’ middle initials.
• Verification: Interested parties can review the Alaska Department of Public Safety’s investigation updates, the June election‑board report, and the New York Times article (published 2026). Official court filings are available through the Alaska Supreme Court’s public docket.
• Potential outcomes: If investigators find a violation, candidates could face civil penalties or removal from the ballot. Conversely, if no law was broken, the race will proceed as scheduled on November 3.

Next steps

• Monitor statements from Governor Dunleavy’s office and the Department of Public Safety.
• Follow any court rulings stemming from the Justice Department’s lawsuit.
• Stay informed through reputable news outlets covering Alaska’s Senate race.

--- *This article is based on publicly available reports from Al Jazeera, the New York Times, and official statements from Alaska’s governor and the Justice Department.*