Sen. Lisa Murkowski is demanding the “truth” from former Rep. Mary Peltola amid what she called a “pattern of lies and coverups” following reports that the Democrat’s campaign recruited one of her midterm opponents to “ballot-stack.”
“While some may try to write this off as just how politics works now, ballot-stacking should have no place in our electoral process,” Murkowski wrote in a statement to The Hill. “Run and win on your merits: your views, your policy ideas, and your accomplishments.”
She continued: “By contrast, recruiting candidates to manipulate the field and influence voting outcomes is simply wrong.” Murkowski concluded: “Alaskans deserve the honest truth from Mary and her campaign—what has been revealed is a pattern of lies and coverups and a culture of deception that belongs nowhere in our elections or among our elected officials.”
The Allegations
The New York Times reported Wednesday that Peltola’s campaign, alongside the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, attempted to recruit one of her opponents who shared the same name as the GOP’s incumbent candidate: Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC have denied being involved with the effort. “The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign,” the campaign said in a statement. “Like Mary, our campaign is focused on lowering costs and fixing the rigged system in D.C. and did not recruit any candidates into the race.”
The Lawsuit
Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.’s presence on the ballot has angered the Justice Department, which filed a lawsuit earlier this month attempting to block certification of the election if the incumbent senator loses. Alaska’s GOP-led government urged a federal court to dismiss the case Wednesday.
Murkowski previously advocated against the lawsuit, expressing on social media: “Alaskans don’t need any help voting for their preferred candidates, and the State of Alaska has already handled this by clearly distinguishing the candidates on this year’s ballot.” She added: “The Department of Justice should never have filed this lawsuit.”
The Political Fallout
Though the alleged tactics are not illegal, President Donald Trump stated he believed Peltola should not be allowed to run for Senate. “I think the fake Dan Sullivan and Mary Peltola, number one they should be taken off the ballot, and number two they should be prosecuted,” the president said on Truth Social.
The Bottom Line
Sen. Lisa Murkowski is demanding answers from Mary Peltola over reports that her campaign recruited a candidate with the same name as Sen. Dan Sullivan to split the Republican vote. Peltola and the DSCC deny involvement. The Justice Department has sued to block certification of the election if Sullivan loses. Trump says Peltola should be prosecuted. The tactics are not illegal, but Murkowski says they are wrong.
