President Trump said Mary Peltola should not be allowed to run in Alaska’s Senate election, citing allegations tied to a second candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan. The New York Times reported that a Democratic operative connected to Peltola’s campaign helped encourage the candidate to run, while Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee deny involvement. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled that the second Sullivan may appear on the ballot after state officials tried to exclude him. The Justice Department has filed suit seeking to prevent certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses because of voter confusion. The court has not been reported to have found Peltola responsible or barred her from running.
TLDR: Alaska voters will see both Sen. Dan Sullivan and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. on a ranked-choice ballot, after the state supreme court ruled the challenger could remain. A federal lawsuit seeks to address possible confusion at certification, while claims about campaign involvement remain disputed.
President Donald Trump said Democrat Mary Peltola “shouldn’t be allowed to run” in Alaska’s Senate election, alleging fraud after a report said people aligned with her campaign helped encourage a candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan to run. The additional candidate shares a first and last name with Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, Peltola’s main opponent. The allegation is disputed, and Trump’s statements are not a court ruling or a formal decision about Peltola’s eligibility.
The stated rationale for federal action is concern that voters could confuse the two candidates named Sullivan. Attorney General Todd Blanche described the Justice Department lawsuit as an effort to “put guardrails in place.” The department is seeking to prevent certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses because of voter confusion. The court process, rather than a presidential post, will determine the matter.
The New York Times reported that a Democratic operative who worked with Peltola’s campaign and national Democrats helped encourage Daniel J. Sullivan to run. The newspaper cited text messages and interviews, and said the effort appeared to be part of a wider attempt to draw more candidates into the race. The reporting does not establish that Peltola or her campaign directed the effort.
Trump accused Peltola of a scheme and wrote on Truth Social that she should not be allowed to run. He called the situation “voter fraud at the highest level” and said, “I’m the one that said, ‘Do it,’” when asked about the Justice Department lawsuit. His remarks show support for federal action, but do not change the court’s ruling that Daniel J. Sullivan may appear on the ballot.
Four candidates advanced from Alaska’s nonpartisan primary: Peltola, Sen. Dan Sullivan, retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., and another candidate not identified by name in the report. Alaska uses ranked-choice voting. The ballot identifies the sitting senator as a Republican and an incumbent. Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. has no party affiliation listed.
The difference between the two Sullivans is central to the dispute. Sen. Sullivan has called the challenger a “sham candidate” and said he was trying to trick voters. Daniel J. Sullivan has denied those allegations and said he is genuinely interested in running for Senate. The available account presents both positions but does not establish the challenger’s intent.
State officials first sought to keep Daniel J. Sullivan off the ballot. They found that he was trying to confuse voters and argued that his candidacy was not made in good faith. The Alaska Supreme Court rejected that decision and ruled that he could remain on the ballot. The ruling allowed voters to consider his candidacy.
The Justice Department filed its lawsuit last week. It seeks to stop certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses because of confusion over the two names. The report gives no hearing date or decision deadline, and no court finding that Peltola recruited the second Sullivan or has been barred from running. The case concerns possible confusion and certification; Trump’s demand that Peltola be excluded remains a political statement.
Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have denied involvement in getting the second Sullivan onto the ballot. A Peltola spokesperson said the campaign had no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. The DSCC spokesperson said the committee was not involved with Dan J. Sullivan. The DSCC also cited other races where it says Republicans recruited or supported candidates, including a New York prisoner who ran for Alaska’s House seat in 2024 and an Arizona man who ran in this year’s Alaska Senate primary. Those are counterclaims and do not resolve who encouraged Daniel J. Sullivan to enter this race.
The practical impact is immediate for voters, candidates, and election officials. Voters will see two candidates with the same first and last name on a ranked-choice ballot. The incumbent’s party and office status appear beside his name; Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. has no party affiliation listed. The ranking format remains in place. The lawsuit could affect certification if the incumbent loses because of voter confusion, but the report gives no added voter forms, fees, compliance requirements, or court timetable.
The next steps are the election and the ongoing lawsuit. The Alaska Supreme Court has ruled that Daniel J. Sullivan can appear on the ballot, while the federal case seeks a condition on certification under a specific outcome. Until a court makes further findings, claims about coordination and voter confusion remain contested. Trump’s remarks do not legally remove Peltola from the race.
Ben Taylor serves as the Senior Correspondent and Investigations Lead for Just Right News, where he anchors the network’s commitment to government transparency and institutional accountability. With a career defined by a relentless pursuit of the facts, Taylor spearheads the acclaimed feature series “The Paper Trail,” a deep-dive investigative column that prioritizes primary source documentation over political rhetoric. Based in the heart of the nation’s capital, he has earned a reputation as one of the most formidable investigative journalists in Washington, D.C., known specifically for his mastery of public records and the Freedom of Information Act.
Taylor’s approach to journalism is deeply rooted in his upbringing in Kansas City, Missouri. Growing up in the “Show Me State,” he developed a healthy skepticism of centralized power and a profound respect for the common-sense values of the American heartland. This Midwestern foundation informs his reporting today, as he bridges the gap between the complex machinations of federal bureaucracy and the everyday concerns of citizens across the country. For Taylor, investigative reporting is not about chasing headlines; it is about ensuring that the government remains answerable to the people it serves.
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