Texts show Peltola campaign helped recruit rival named Dan Sullivan

The New York Times reported Wednesday that the campaign of Democrat Mary Peltola participated in efforts to recruit a candidate with the same name as Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. The newspaper obtained text messages between members of Peltola’s team discussing how to find a second Dan Sullivan. The goal was to confuse voters in a race that could decide which party controls the U.S. Senate.

The campaign settled on a retired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska, named Dan J. Sullivan. He survived a challenge to his ballot status in the state’s August open primary. He appears on the ranked choice ballot for the general election scheduled for Tuesday, October 27.

Dan J. Sullivan has previously stated he had no contact with Peltola’s operation. In June, he told reporters his connection to the Democrats was "Zero, none, zilch." He did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on the new report. A top state elections official initially ruled him ineligible, arguing his filing aimed to compromise ballot neutrality. The Alaska Supreme Court later reversed that decision, stating the federal Constitution sets only age, citizenship, and residency requirements for Senate candidates.

President Donald Trump directed the Department of Justice to file a lawsuit last week to preemptively block the certification of a Peltola victory. The suit cites the presence of the second Sullivan on the ballot. On Wednesday, the president wrote on social media that Peltola should suffer legal and political consequences. Nate Adams, a spokesperson for Sen. Sullivan, claimed Peltola and her senior advisers colluded with national Democratic lawyers and operatives to deceive Alaskans.

Peltola’s campaign issued a statement Wednesday denying any involvement with either Sullivan campaign. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee also said it was not involved with Dan J. Sullivan, despite the Times report indicating its staffers were part of the text message chain. Legal experts noted the text messages will not change the DOJ lawsuit. Derek Muller, a law professor at Notre Dame, said the recruitment tactic was a dirty trick but that the decision now rests with voters.

The Times based its report partly on interviews with Elisa Rios, Peltola’s former campaign manager. Rios was fired in August during a campaign reorganization. The newspaper said she attempted to retract her comments last week. As of Monday, 46,204 ballots had been cast in Alaska. The ballot lists the incumbent as Dan Sullivan and the challenger as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., with no party affiliation.