DOJ Sues Over Alaska Senate Ballot Dispute

A New York Times investigation, citing interviews, messages and documents, alleged that aides to Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola, national Democratic operatives and people connected to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee tried to recruit candidates with names resembling Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan’s to siphon votes from him, including retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan. Former Peltola campaign manager Elisa Rios told the Times that Peltola knew of the effort but was not directly involved, then later sought to retract her account; Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC denied recruiting Dan J. Sullivan, and the campaign said it had no involvement with either Sullivan’s candidacy. Alaska’s Supreme Court allowed Dan J. Sullivan to remain on the ballot, and the Department of Justice sued to block certification of results that could be affected by voter confusion. President Donald Trump accused Democrats of election fraud and called for consequences. The race is closely watched because its outcome could affect control of the Senate, and Alaska uses ranked-choice voting.