From CNBC · Dan Mangan · · 3m
Alaska governor orders probe of Sullivan name-swap scheme
Gov. Mike Dunleavy investigates whether Democrats recruited a second Dan Sullivan to confuse voters and split the Republican incumbent's support in a race that could decide Senate control.
In brief
Gov. Mike Dunleavy investigates whether Democrats recruited a second Dan Sullivan to confuse voters and split the Republican incumbent's support in a race that could decide Senate control. Alaska's governor ordered an investigation into allegations that Democrats recruited a retired teacher named Dan Sullivan to run…
Governor orders investigation
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into whether the recruitment of a candidate named Dan Sullivan for the U.S. Senate race violated state laws.
The New York Times report
The New York Times reported that people in Mary Peltola's campaign and senior advisors at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee worked to recruit retired schoolteacher Dan Sullivan to run.
Drawing votes from the incumbent
The alleged recruitment aimed to draw votes from Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican incumbent who shares the same name as the retired teacher.
Democrats deny involvement
Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee denied they are involved in the retired teacher Dan Sullivan's campaign.
Senate control at stake
The winner of the Alaska Senate race could determine the balance of power in the Senate, where Republicans hold a six vote majority.
DOJ lawsuit over confusion
A federal judge allowed Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee to intervene in a Justice Department lawsuit seeking to block certification of any result impacted by voter confusion.
Dunleavy's election integrity concern
Dunleavy said deliberately tricking voters into casting ballots for someone else strikes at the integrity of elections and anyone found to have broken the law must be held accountable.
“Deliberately tricking voters into casting their ballots for someone else strikes at the integrity of our elections.”
Trump questions Peltola's candidacy
President Donald Trump said it is hard to believe Peltola can even be allowed to run and called the retired teacher Sullivan a fraud placed on the ballot.
“It's hard to believe that she can even be allowed to run.”
Republicans' own candidate recruitment
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee pointed to instances of Republicans recruiting and propping up candidates in the current and past election cycles to boost their own campaigns.
Ballot distinctions in place
Alaska elections officials said they have taken significant steps to distinguish between the two Sullivans on the ballot so voters can easily determine which candidate is which.
Election day November third
The Senate race will be decided on November third, with a federal judge ordering the Department of Justice to respond to motions to dismiss its lawsuit by late Thursday afternoon.
The main idea
Alaska's governor ordered an investigation into allegations that Democrats recruited a retired teacher named Dan Sullivan to run for Senate and draw votes from incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, as a federal judge allowed both campaigns to intervene in a DOJ lawsuit over ballot confusion.
