--- title: "Alaska Senate Election Controversy Deepens Over Decoy Candidate Allegations" url: https://newscentral.site/alaska-senate-election-controversy-deepens-over-decoy-candidate/ language: en publisher: "News Central Site" section: "Politics" published: 2026-11-01T17:14:28.000Z updated: 2026-11-02T03:32:08.343Z id: d5035f59-ecac-4c43-98c5-50106e034337 source: "ABC News Politics https://abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory/sullivan-claims-peltola-lying-campaigns-involvement-alaska-ballot-137749607" attribution: "Link to https://newscentral.site/alaska-senate-election-controversy-deepens-over-decoy-candidate/ and name News Central Site when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Alaska Senate Election Controversy Deepens Over Decoy Candidate Allegations A Republican senator accused his Democratic rival of being dishonest about her campaign's involvement in recruiting a decoy candidate onto the ballot. A controversy surrounding Alaska's Senate election has taken a dramatic turn as Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan accused his Democratic rival Mary Peltola of being dishonest about her campaign's involvement in recruiting a decoy candidate onto the ballot. The dispute centers on allegations that Peltola's top aides were secretly working with an operative to recruit a retired schoolteacher also named Dan Sullivan, who was placed on the ballot as a spoiler. Republicans have long suspected that Peltola and her campaign were behind this move, which they claim aimed to confuse voters in a closely contested election. According to recent findings by The New York Times, text messages and campaign finance documents reveal that an operative trying to recruit decoy candidates was paid by a group backing Peltola. This evidence has apparently confirmed Republican suspicions about the involvement of Peltola's campaign in the ballot controversy. Sullivan has publicly expressed his skepticism about Peltola's claims of ignorance regarding her top aides' actions, stating that it is unlikely she remained uninformed for an entire year while this was taking place. Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have denied any involvement in recruiting a duplicate candidate to run against Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican incumbent. This denial comes despite allegations of potential voter confusion due to the duplicate names on the ballot, with one Sullivan listed as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and the other as Dan S. Sullivan. Peltola has maintained that she is not aware of any involvement by her campaign in recruiting the decoy candidate, stating "I have no idea when questioned about the possibility at a rally last Friday. The duplicate candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., claims to have run on his own accord, listing himself as an independent and separate from the senator's campaign. The situation has led to calls for Peltola to be prosecuted by some of her critics, including former President Donald Trump, who has also ordered federal agents to investigate the case. The controversy surrounding Mary Peltola's campaign in Alaska has sparked debate among lawmakers about potential criminal charges. Some critics argue that candidates working in collusion with other parties to confuse voters constitutes a crime, according to South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who leads the GOP group focused on Senate races. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., downplayed the issue, suggesting it's not uncommon for candidates to share the same name as others on the ballot, although he wouldn't condone promoting such a strategy himself. It's stupid politics, Raskin said, implying that most candidates would avoid using this tactic. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, also weighed in on the matter, stating that while what happened in Alaska may seem pretty dumb, it's not necessarily illegal and occurs in every election. Sullivan himself acknowledged the potential impact of having a second Sullivan on the ballot, expressing concern that voters might be misled by the similarity. I'm sure I'm going to lose a lot of votes to that trickery, Sullivan said, underscoring his concerns about the situation's effect on his campaign. Sullivan's stance on the election results appears to be at odds with his earlier concerns about Peltola's campaign involvement in the ballot controversy. He has repeatedly accused her of lying about the matter. The Alaska Senate candidates have been crisscrossing the vast state as they enter the final stretch of their campaigns, engaging with voters and promoting their platforms. On Saturday night, Sullivan made a lighthearted appearance at a trunk-or-treat" event north of Anchorage, where he handed out candy to local children in costume. Sullivan's campaign has been marred by controversy surrounding the Alaska ballot issue, which has left him questioning Peltola's integrity. His remarks reflect the tension and uncertainty that have characterized this election cycle. The outcome of the Alaska Senate race remains uncertain as voters prepare to cast their ballots. --- Source: [ABC News Politics](https://abcnews.com/Politics/wireStory/sullivan-claims-peltola-lying-campaigns-involvement-alaska-ballot-137749607) Published by News Central Site: https://newscentral.site/alaska-senate-election-controversy-deepens-over-decoy-candidate/