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The Justice Department has issued subpoenas into allegations that people associated with the Alaska Senate campaign of Democrat Mary Peltola launched an effort to confuse Republican voters by recruiting a spoiler candidate who shared the Republican incumbent's name. Jonah Kaplan reports from Petersburg, Alaska.

Peltola says she “knew nothing about” the other Dan Sullivan

By Joe Walsh Oct 30, 2026 | 12:31 AM

▶ Watch Video: Details on the controversy upending Alaska’s key Senate race

Democratic Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola told supporters Thursday she is “not interested in tricking voters,” after two days of intense questions about how a man with the same first and last name as her Republican opponent ended up on the ballot.

The state’s toss-up Senate contest has drawn nationwide scrutiny since The New York Times alleged Thursday that operatives linked to Peltola’s campaign helped recruit a candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan — who has the same first and last name as GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan. The Justice Department has sued to potentially block the election from being certified if the senator loses due to “voter confusion,” and it issued subpoenas in a separate criminal probe.

In a rally at the state capital of Juneau on Thursday, Peltola offered some of her fullest public remarks on the controversy, denying any connection to Daniel J. Sullivan. 

“I just want to clear the air. I knew nothing about any other candidates on the ballot except for me and the incumbent. That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters. I know I can beat Dan Sullivan,” she told supporters.

This is a breaking story; it will be updated.