Trump Demands Prosecution of Peltola Over Alaska Spoiler-Candidate Scandal

Trump Demands Prosecution of Peltola Over Alaska Spoiler-Candidate Scandal

Times Report Alleges Campaign Recruited a Second Dan Sullivan

The Alaska Senate race exploded into a national scandal on Oct. 28, when President Donald Trump demanded the criminal prosecution of Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola. The trigger was an investigative report by The New York Times published the same day. Citing interviews, internal text messages from a former Peltola aide, and documents prepared for a possible lawsuit, the Times reported that aides to Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spent months recruiting a second Dan Sullivan to run against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The effort, described by operatives as a ballot-composition project, allegedly began in the summer of 2025 and targeted several namesakes. It culminated in the candidacy of Dan J. Sullivan of Petersburg, who registered as a Republican when he filed, then switched to undeclared in August when he requested a primary absentee ballot (a change he later called a mistake).

Trump Says Peltola Should Face Charges and Leave the Race

Trump first wrote on social media that Peltola should suffer the legal and political consequences for what she had done. Asked about the Times report on Wednesday, he answered: I think they should be prosecuted, referring in context to Peltola and the other Sullivan. He also called for both to be removed from the ballot and described the episode as election interference and voter fraud. Separately, at Trump's direction, the U.S. Department of Justice has sued to block certification of any Senate result that may have been affected by voter confusion, pending an investigation into whether votes for Daniel J. Sullivan were meant for the incumbent. Legal experts said the Times revelations would not directly change the trajectory of that lawsuit.

Peltola Camp Denies Any Role in Recruitment

Peltola's campaign denied involvement. In a statement responding to Trump, it said Mary entered the race because Alaskans deserve a champion fighting to lower costs and put Alaska first, and that no post or threat from any Washington politician would drive her from that fight. The statement added that the Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. National Democrats also denied participation. A Democratic strategist said on television that such ballot tactics happen all the time, a remark that drew sharp Republican backlash. Peltola and the incumbent met on Oct. 15 in Anchorage for a bitter final televised debate, repeatedly accusing each other of lying.

Four-Name Ranked-Choice Ballot Raises Confusion Stakes

Alaska voters face the most immediate consequences, especially those who already cast ballots. As of Monday, 46,204 ballots had been cast, according to AP data. Alaska uses a nonpartisan primary in which candidates can claim any party label without party vetting, making it easy for namesakes to qualify, followed by a four-person general-election ballot with ranked-choice voting. This year's ballot lists Peltola, the Republican incumbent, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. with no party affiliation, and Palmer Republican Gerald Heikes. Two Sullivans side by side create an obvious risk of mistaken votes and a potentially long fight over counting and certification.

Certification Fight and Nov. 3 Vote Will Decide What Comes Next

Three milestones matter now. The first is Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in midterm elections where the Alaska seat could decide the Senate majority. The second is the Justice Department lawsuit: whether a federal judge in Alaska blocks certification of a possible Peltola victory will shape how quickly a winner is seated. The third is criminal exposure. Trump's call for prosecution remains a political demand; any case would require prosecutors to find a violation tied to recruitment or fraud. Until then, Peltola remains on the ballot, early votes stand, and the spoiler controversy dominates the campaign's final stretch.