Alaska Senate race roiled by allegations over second Dan Sullivan on ballot

Alaska officials and the U.S. Justice Department are investigating allegations that Democratic operatives helped recruit a candidate named Dan Sullivan to run against Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan in the state’s closely contested Senate election.

The New York Times reported that people connected to Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign and senior Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee aides sought candidates who could draw support from the incumbent, including retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan. The report cited communications and interviews with people involved in or aware of the effort. NPR and the BBC said they had not independently verified the allegations.

Peltola denied knowing about the other Sullivan’s candidacy. “I am not interested in tricking voters,” she said Thursday. Her campaign and the DSCC have denied involvement, while Dan J. Sullivan has previously said running was his own decision.

Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy directed Alaska’s Department of Public Safety to determine whether state laws were violated and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted. The Justice Department has also begun issuing subpoenas to Democratic officials allegedly connected to the recruitment effort, CBS News reported. No charges had been filed as of Friday morning.

The Justice Department had already sued to delay certification if the incumbent loses by a narrow margin, citing possible confusion caused by the two similarly named candidates. It amended that complaint after the Times report. Election-law experts cited by NPR have criticized the federal case as weak. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled in June that Dan J. Sullivan could remain on the general-election ballot.