Alaska Governor Orders Probe of Second Sullivan Candidate

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on October 29 ordered a state investigation into whether efforts to recruit a second Dan Sullivan for the U.S. Senate ballot violated state law and could warrant criminal charges or civil action. Dunleavy directed the Alaska Department of Public Safety to examine the reported effort after an account of the recruitment plan prompted renewed scrutiny. The allegations center on Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher whose name resembles that of Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, and whether campaign or party operatives sought to draw votes from the incumbent. The reported plan involved aides connected to Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The allegations have not been established as legal findings. Peltola’s campaign and committee officials have denied working together to recruit Daniel J. Sullivan to confuse voters. Daniel J. Sullivan has said he entered the race of his own volition, according to reporting in the source material. The state inquiry follows an Alaska Division of Elections review in June. The Alaska Supreme Court allowed Daniel J. Sullivan to remain on the ballot, finding that...