4 minPolitics
RNC accuses Democrats of fraud over Alaska ballot scheme
The Republican National Committee rejected the idea that both parties use spoiler candidates, calling a Democrat-linked effort to place a second Dan Sullivan on Alaska's Senate ballot fraudulent.
The Republican National Committee has rejected the claim that both parties engage in similar election tactics, calling a Democrat-linked effort to place a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on Alaska's Senate ballot a fraudulent scheme. The RNC's election integrity communications director, Ally Triolo, made the remarks to Fox News Digital on Thursday, one day after The New York Times reported on the effort.
According to the Times, Senate nominee Mary Peltola's campaign, aides from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and others worked to place a retired teacher named Dan J. Sullivan on the ballot. Triolo said Republicans had raised concerns about the matter months earlier. "No, both sides of the aisle don't do this," she said. "Our entire effort here at the RNC is securing elections, making them fair and free and honest."
Triolo argued that Democrats had voted repeatedly against the Save America Act and against what she described as common-sense election safeguards. She said the RNC's election integrity unit maintains a substantial on-the-ground operation in Alaska, including an in-state director, attorneys, observers and poll workers. "It has been abundantly clear from the get-go that this was a ploy to try to sway voters, confuse voters, take votes away from the real Sen. Dan Sullivan," she said.
The Justice Department intervened last week, suing to block certification of a potential Peltola win if votes for the second Sullivan could have changed the outcome. A senior DOJ official told Fox News on Thursday that the criminal investigation had intensified, with officials examining possible civil-rights violations under 18 U.S.C. §§ 241 and 242. Sources told Fox News that an "aggressive criminal investigation" into Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. appearing on the ballot has been underway for several months and is being run by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Alaska. The sources said it is expected to extend beyond Tuesday's Election Day, with no indictment or heavy grand jury activity anticipated before then. The DOJ has declined to comment on the matter.
Vice President JD Vance said authorities should "certainly look into whether [Peltola] committed election fraud," describing the effort as an attempt to "steal a Senate seat." Senate Majority Leader John Thune called it a "coordinated effort" and "totally dirty pool." Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has also ordered a state investigation. Peltola's campaign and DSCC officials have denied any involvement in recruiting the second Sullivan to confuse voters, and have said that both parties have fielded spoiler candidates in past elections. The Alaska Supreme Court previously ruled that the second Dan Sullivan could remain on the ballot under state law.
Triolo said the RNC would keep drawing attention to the issue and urged Republicans to stay focused on keeping the Senate majority. "This is why this midterm election feels like a presidential, because so much is at stake," she said.
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