Politics · United States · 1 hr ago
DOJ Issues New Subpoenas in Alaska Senate Candidate Probe
The Justice Department is investigating an alleged effort to confuse Alaska Senate voters by recruiting Daniel J. Sullivan, who has the same name as Republican incumbent Sen.
Dan Sullivan.
The allegation is that the second candidate was meant to draw votes away from the incumbent in his race against Democrat Mary Peltola.
Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee deny involvement, and Daniel J. Sullivan has said he is genuinely interested in running.
Federal prosecutors have issued new subpoenas as they examine whether the alleged scheme could violate civil rights laws.
No one involved in the race has been charged, and a Justice Department official said the agency knew of no confirmed cases of voters choosing the wrong Dan Sullivan.
The department has also expanded a separate lawsuit seeking to block certification of the results if Sen.
Sullivan loses, citing possible voter confusion.
Alaska has opened its own investigation into whether the effort broke state law and whether legal action is warranted.
The Justice Department has issued new subpoenas in a criminal investigation into an alleged effort to recruit a second candidate named Dan Sullivan for Alaska’s Senate ballot.
The investigation concerns claims that people linked to Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sought to draw votes away from Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.
The Justice Department has also amended a civil lawsuit seeking to block certification of the results if Dan Sullivan loses because of voter confusion.
Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee deny involvement in recruiting the second candidate.
No one involved in the race has been charged with a crime.
- Who
- The Justice Department is investigating alleged recruitment efforts involving Democratic officials and candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign.
- What
- It has issued new subpoenas in a criminal probe into the effort to put Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot alongside Sen. Dan Sullivan.
- When
- The new subpoenas were reported on October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Alaska.
- Why
- Investigators are examining whether the alleged effort was intended to confuse voters or divert votes from Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Justice Department
Peltola’s campaign and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Alleged recruitment effort
Justice Department
The department is investigating whether people linked to the campaign and committee coordinated to recruit a same-name candidate and confuse voters.
Peltola’s campaign and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Peltola’s campaign and the committee deny any connection to the effort to put Daniel J. Sullivan on the ballot.
Legal significance
Justice Department
The department’s amended lawsuit calls the situation a conspiracy to undermine the electoral process, and officials have identified potential civil rights statutes.
Peltola’s campaign and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
Peltola’s campaign and the committee deny involvement; no one involved in the race has been charged.
Campaign aides reportedly began seeking potential spoiler candidates for Alaska’s Senate ballot.
Dan J. Sullivan won 2.5% of the vote in Alaska’s primary and advanced to the general election.
The New York Times published its investigation into the alleged recruitment effort.
The Justice Department issued a new wave of subpoenas and amended its civil lawsuit over certification of the election results.
Alaska’s general election was scheduled to take place.
- Subpoenas
- CNN reported more than 40 grand jury subpoenas and record preservation notices.
- Candidate
- Daniel J. Sullivan is running against incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.
- Other Senate candidate
- Mary Peltola is the Democratic candidate challenging Dan S. Sullivan.
- Election date
- November 3, 2026
- Criminal charges
- No one involved in the race has been charged.
8 sources
Republicans Ramp Up Investigation Into Democratic Plan to Pack Alaska’s Ballot
Megyn Kelly Says Dana Bash ‘Looks So Stupid’ After Alaska Democrats’ Dan Sullivan Scam
DOJ issues new subpoenas in Alaska Senate probe
Trump voert juridische strijd in Alaska op tegen mogelijke verwarring op stembiljet
US-Parlamentswahlen: Medien: US-Ministerium weitet Ermittlung zu Alaska-Wahl aus
Report on alleged ‘second Dan Sullivan’ effort emerges after nearly 1 in 10 Alaskans voted
Justice Department’s Dan Sullivan criminal probe accelerates after Alaska campaign revelations
What people are saying
I think I've not heard of that, but it's hard to tell exactly
To me, that’s voter fraud at the highest level.
She looks so stupid now
It’s not illegal and it’s not new