Peltola rejects ballot-trick claims as Alaska Senate race faces scrutiny

Peltola addresses the controversy

At a Thursday rally in Juneau, Alaska’s capital, Mary Peltola made some of her most extensive public comments on the dispute. The Democratic Senate candidate denied having any connection to Daniel J. Sullivan.

Peltola told supporters she was “not interested in tricking voters.” She also said she would keep her attention on “affordability, affordability, affordability.” Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher, has said he is genuinely interested in running. Sen. Sullivan has called him a “sham candidate” and alleged that his candidacy was intended to confuse voters and take support from the Republican incumbent.

Questions about candidate recruitment

Representatives for Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee denied involvement in recruiting Daniel J. Sullivan. The report and the denials have added to scrutiny of his presence on the ballot.

State and federal investigations

The Justice Department is investigating the matter. Separately, Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, ordered a probe into whether the alleged scheme violated state law and whether criminal or civil action was warranted. Dunleavy later said in an interview that the investigation could affect whether a winner is certified in next week’s Senate race.