Dunleavy Orders Criminal Look Into Alaska Senate Ballot Dispute

Alaska residents who voted in the recent U.S. Senate contest may face a formal review of their ballots. Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered the Department of Public Safety to investigate an alleged scheme designed to confuse voters with a candidate sharing a name similar to the incumbent. The probe will determine if state laws were broken and whether criminal or civil charges are necessary.

The order came after a New York Times report detailed efforts by the campaign of Rep. Mary Peltola to recruit a candidate with a name nearly identical to that of the sitting Republican senator. According to the report, the team worked to place that candidate on the ballot to split votes and help Peltola win. The paper also claimed the group sought other candidates to further dilute support for the incumbent.

Dunleavy stated on X that the reporting provided new evidence of an organized effort to manipulate the election. He noted that the Alaska Division of Elections had already reviewed these concerns in June. The governor said the new details support the division's earlier findings. He directed the Department of Public Safety to decide if the actions warrant legal action. "The evidence will determine what happens next," he wrote.

The ranked-choice ballot for the Senate seat lists incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. It also lists Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr., a retired teacher with no party affiliation. The similar names have raised questions about whether voters accidentally selected the wrong person.

Sen. Sullivan criticized his opponent during an interview with Sean Hannity on Wednesday. He argued that Peltola had not apologized for the situation. "This is what happens when you have a candidate like Peltola, far left, who's got nothing to run on," he said. He added that she is acting as if nothing happened.

Peltola's campaign denied the connection. In a statement to the New York Times, the team said they had no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. They also stated they did not recruit any candidates into the race. The campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.

The issue is already before federal courts. The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Oct. 22 seeking to delay the certification of results if Sen. Dan S. Sullivan loses. The delay would remain in place while officials investigate if votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan could have changed the outcome.