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Archive photo · 2 June 2025Trump Demands Alaska Democrats Remove Peltola and Prosecute Dan Sullivan Dispute
“Trump calls for prosecution of Democratic Alaska Senate candidate over spoiler candidate controversy”
“Placing candidates on the ballot is a matter of state law, not federal law”
Photo: Daniel Torok, Public domain · Cropped for layout
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Trump demanded removal of Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola from Alaska ballot after NYT report He urged prosecution of a Democratic candidate sharing the name with Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan
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Trump targets Alaska ballot
President Donald Trump demanded the removal and prosecution of two candidates in Alaska’s Senate race, accusing Democrats of orchestrating a scheme to mislead voters after a New York Times investigation.
“It has just been revealed that the Democrats in Alaska illegally searched for a man named Dan Sullivan and recruited him.”
Trump wrote on Truth Social that “It has just been revealed that the Democrats in Alaska illegally searched for a man named Dan Sullivan and recruited him.”
Trump also called for allowing the real Sullivan to run without the presence of Peltola or the “fake Dan Sullivan” on the ballots.
Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from a remote fishing community in Alaska, said he entered the race of his own accord and was not recruited, while the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the retired teacher’s right to stand in June.
The Justice Department sued Alaska last week seeking to delay certification if Senator Sullivan loses and votes for his namesake could have affected the outcome, and Alaska asked the court to dismiss the case.
Governor orders probe
Alaska governor Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into an alleged “scheme” designed “to manipulate Alaska's elections,” saying he was responding to a New York Times report.
Dunleavy directed the Department of Public Safety to investigate whether the scheme violated Alaska's laws and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted, writing, “The evidence will determine what happens next.”
The BBC reported that Sullivan told Fox News on Wednesday night that Peltola should “come clean” and described it as a scandal of the highest order.
The BBC also said the battle threatens to delay the full picture of nationwide results following the midterm elections, and it noted that Dunleavy’s statement did not name the Peltola campaign.
The BBC further reported that the Justice Department’s lawsuit sought to prevent certification if the Trump-backed candidate loses, and it said the Alaska Supreme Court had already decided that Daniel J. Sullivan would be on the ballot.
Legal fight and stakes
The Justice Department’s lawsuit sought to delay certification if Peltola narrowly defeats the incumbent and votes cast for his namesake could have changed the outcome, and the state has asked a federal judge to dismiss the case.
CNN reported that Alaska officials said the New York Times revelations did not change the state’s opposition to the Trump administration lawsuit, and the spokesperson for the Alaska Department of Law said it has “no impact on the current litigation.”
CNN also quoted Attorney General Todd Blanche on Fox News touting the Times story as proof that the Justice Department was right to bring its unprecedented federal lawsuit, while Dean Franita Tolson of the University of Southern California Gould School of Law said the Times reporting doesn’t give the DOJ’s lawsuit any more credence.
The Hill reported that Trump said “In Alaska, I don’t think Mary Peltola, after perpetrating such a terrible scheme, should be allowed to run, because this is ELECTION FRAUD,” and it said Trump called on Peltola and Daniel J. Sullivan to be prosecuted.
The Hill added that the alleged tactics are not illegal, and it said the Justice Department filed a lawsuit to block certification of the Senate contest results if the incumbent loses.