Alaska officials stand by election process amid dispute over second Dan Sullivan
Goldlaner.com – Alaska election officials say recent claims involving a second Senate candidate named Dan Sullivan have not altered the state’s legal position against a federal effort that could delay certification of the election.
The dispute has intensified in the closing days of one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate contests. Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher who shares the name of Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, is set to remain on the ballot after the Alaska Supreme Court ruled on the matter. State officials say that decision continues to govern the election process.
Sam Curtis, a spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Law, said the latest allegations reinforced election officials’ early concerns about Daniel J. Sullivan’s candidacy but did not affect the lawsuit now underway.
“Placing candidates on the ballot is a matter of state law, not federal law.”
Curtis said the federal statute invoked by the Justice Department does not control who may seek office in Alaska and does not authorize the remedy federal officials are pursuing. Alaska’s Division of Elections, he said, remains obligated to follow the state Supreme Court’s order while conducting the election and helping voters where needed.
“The Division is bound by the Alaska Supreme Court’s order and is committed to running a fair election and assisting voters as needed.”
Federal lawsuit raises broader election authority questions
The Trump administration’s case has drawn scrutiny because elections are principally administered by the states. The Justice Department has sought involvement that could potentially affect when the Senate result is certified, while Alaska officials argue that ballot-access questions are controlled by state law.
Attorney General Todd Blanche pointed to newly public allegations involving Democratic efforts to recruit Daniel J. Sullivan as support for the federal case. Yet when asked whether an unlawful act had occurred that would permit Justice Department intervention in a state-run election, Blanche did not identify one.
Federal lawyers told a judge on Wednesday that they want information and evidence from former Rep. Mary Peltola’s campaign related to the naming issue. The department characterized the matter as a conspiracy.
Peltola, a former at-large member of the House, is considered a major Democratic Senate recruit for the midterm elections. Her campaign has denied participating in Daniel J. Sullivan’s campaign.
The allegations have become especially consequential because the contest is nearing Election Day and because a candidate with the same name as the incumbent could create confusion for some voters. The state’s position is that its existing rules and court ruling, rather than federal intervention, determine how the ballot must be handled.
Trump and Republicans increase pressure on Peltola
President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the presence of two Dan Sullivans on the ballot. He said last week that he directed the Justice Department to bring the lawsuit, and he issued several social-media posts attacking Peltola after the latest allegations emerged.
“She should be removed from the Ballot and prosecuted.”
Trump also wrote:
“So should the FAKE Dan Sullivan. Nothing else will do!”
The incumbent senator’s campaign accused Peltola of misleading voters for months. Speaking with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Sullivan said he was demanding that his opponent explain what she knew.
“I am pressing my opponent to come clean.”
“She’s been lying for over a year. She’s run a campaign about supposed corruption. She’s the corrupt one working with DC insiders to trick Alaskans. So what we’re going to do is we’re going to make sure every single Alaskan knows about this.”
Republicans have treated the race as a priority. Trump and Vice President JD Vance have each traveled to Alaska in recent weeks, signaling the national importance attached to the contest.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, said late Wednesday that he had ordered an inquiry into whether the alleged efforts to confuse voters could support criminal charges or civil action.
“Deliberately tricking voters into casting their ballots for someone else strikes at the integrity of our elections.”
“Anyone or any organization found to have broken the law must be held accountable.”
Debate over spoiler candidates
The controversy has also revived a familiar argument about attempts by political parties and aligned groups to influence which candidates appear in a race. Some Democrats noted that Republican groups have also supported efforts that could aid spoiler candidates.
In Alaska’s primary, a range of GOP organizations gave money to a super PAC that criticized Peltola while promoting a lesser-known Democratic candidate and a Green Party candidate. Those efforts have fueled competing accusations over whether campaigns are trying to divide their opponents’ potential support.
Election-law specialist Rick Hasen said parties frequently look for candidates who could draw votes from a major rival, though motives alone do not establish legal responsibility.
“This is basically a more extreme version of what the parties do all the time, which is try to find a candidate on the other side who can siphon votes away from the major party competitor.”
“And, you know, you can’t really hold someone responsible for impure motives.”
Franita Tolson, dean of the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, said the allegations do not strengthen the legal basis for a federal effort to halt certification.
“At the end of the day, the federal government should not try to block certification of a race because they don’t like the outcome.”
For Alaska voters, the immediate reality is straightforward: both Daniel J. Sullivan and Sen. Dan S. Sullivan are expected to appear on the ballot. The legal fight now centers on whether the federal government can intervene after a state court has resolved the ballot-access question, and whether any investigation uncovers conduct that violates state or federal law.
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