Republicans are mounting investigations into former Rep. Mary Peltola’s campaign following a report that it recruited “spoiler” candidates to siphon votes from incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, while Democrats have largely stayed silent.
The New York Times reported Wednesday that Peltola’s campaign and national Democrats were involved in “ballot stacking” — recruiting extra candidates including Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher who shares the incumbent senator’s name. The allegations come less than a week before Election Day, as Peltola is one of Democrats’ best hopes to flip a Senate seat.
Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have denied any involvement.
The Republican Response
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has launched an investigation. “Alaskans have a fundamental right to vote for the candidate they actually intend to support,” he wrote on social media. “Deliberately tricking voters into casting their ballots for someone else strikes at the integrity of our elections.”
Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chair of the House Oversight Committee, has summoned two Democratic operatives named in the Times report to testify. “Democrats are the party of fraud,” Comer said. “Knowing they can’t win on the issues, Democrats schemed to rig the US Senate election in Alaska by deliberately confusing voters.”
Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who leads the National Republican Senatorial Committee, called for a DOJ investigation, saying ballot stacking is “a criminal offense.” The DOJ on Thursday issued subpoenas targeting Democratic officials believed to be involved, according to ABC News.
The Democratic Silence
Democratic lawmakers have not rushed to Peltola’s defense. A spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer denied involvement in any recruitment scheme but did not otherwise comment.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) blamed the allegations on a “disgruntled fired former campaign staffer” and said he trusts Peltola. “I’m not gonna engage in these hypotheticals,” he said. “All I will say is that Donald Trump is looking for a pretext to try to steal this election.”
Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) posted support for Peltola but did not mention the controversy. Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, said there “should be an investigation” but that Alaska should lead it, not Congress.
Peltola’s Response
Peltola criticized the media for focusing on the story rather than on Sullivan’s record. “This is just another distraction. It’s another diversion,” she said at a campaign event. “Anyone who’s working in your best interest isn’t going to talk about the nonsense. Nobody at The New York Times cares about affordability in Alaska.”
The Context
Ballot stacking is not uncommon and has examples from both parties. It is also not illegal under state law. Many voters have already voted, and several surveyed by Alaska Public Media said the reporting did not change their views.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who has supported Peltola in the past but backs Sullivan in this race, said voters “deserve the honest truth.” She called the allegations “a pattern of lies and coverups and a culture of deception.”
The Bottom Line
Republicans are investigating Mary Peltola’s campaign over an alleged ballot-stacking scheme in Alaska’s Senate race. The governor, House Oversight Committee, and DOJ are all pursuing probes. Democrats have largely stayed silent. Peltola denies involvement and calls the story a distraction. The allegations come less than a week before Election Day.
