Trump says Peltola "shouldn't be allowed to run" due to second Dan Sullivan

Key points

• Trump said Mary Peltola should not be allowed to run in Alaska's Senate race, calling it election fraud.
• The New York Times reported that people aligned with Peltola's campaign helped recruit a candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.
• Peltola's campaign and the DSCC denied any involvement with either Sullivan campaign.

President Trump said Democrat Mary Peltola should not be allowed to run in next week's Alaska Senate race, after The New York Times reported that people aligned with her campaign helped recruit a candidate with the same name as her main opponent, Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. In posts on Truth Social, Trump wrote that Peltola should not be allowed to run after what he called a terrible scheme, adding that it is election fraud. He also told reporters that Peltola and the other Sullivan should be prosecuted.

Alaska voters are choosing between four candidates who survived a nonpartisan primary, including Peltola and Sen. Sullivan, along with Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher with no party affiliation listed on the ballot. The sitting senator is identified as a Republican incumbent.

What the Times reported

The Times reported that a Democratic operative who worked with Peltola's campaign and national Democrats helped encourage Daniel J. Sullivan to run, citing text messages and interviews. The newspaper said it appeared to be part of a wider effort to draw more candidates into the race.

The second Sullivan has been a issue for Republicans for months. Sen. Sullivan has called his same-name challenger a sham candidate trying to trick voters, while Daniel J. Sullivan has denied the allegations and said he is genuinely interested in running.

I don't think Mary Peltola, after perpetrating such a terrible scheme, should be allowed to run, because this is ELECTION FRAUD

— President Trump

Legal fight and denials

State officials initially sought to keep Daniel J. Sullivan off the ballot, but the Alaska Supreme Court rejected that decision and ruled he can appear. Last week, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the election from being certified if Sen. Sullivan loses due to voter confusion about the dueling Sullivans. Attorney General Todd Blanche described it as an effort to put guardrails in place, and Trump told reporters he was the one who said to do it.

Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee strongly denied any hand in getting the duplicate Sullivan on the ballot. A Peltola campaign spokesperson said it has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign, and a DSCC spokesperson said it is not involved with Dan J. Sullivan. Nate Adams, a spokesperson for Sen. Sullivan's campaign, said Alaskans deserve the truth and accused Peltola and her campaign of gaslighting Alaskans.