Trump accuses Democrats of perjury in Dan Sullivan race
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President Trump and Sen. Dan Sullivan, (R-Alaska,) during a campaign event on Oct. 13. Photo: Nathaniel Wilder/Bloomberg via Getty Images
President Trump accused Democrats and Mary Peltola's campaign of fraud and perjury Wednesday after the New York Times reported that Peltola aides helped recruit another candidate named Dan Sullivan.
Why it matters: The revelations add a new twist to Alaska's tight Senate race, where a second Dan Sullivan on the ballot could complicate the Republican incumbent's reelection bid.
Driving the news: The New York Times reported Wednesday revealing that Peltola campaign aides worked with a veteran Democratic operative named Jerid Kurtz, whom the Times described as experienced in ballot-related political tactics.
- A Peltola staffer was reportedly told to search for every Dan Sullivan in the state. The effort ultimately located Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher who registered as a Republican shortly before filing to run for office, per the Times.
- Dan J. Sullivan previously said he voted for Democrats in the last three presidential elections. He later changed his party registration to undeclared and will appear on November's ballot without a political party label.
What they're saying: "It has just been determined that the Democrats in Alaska illegally searched for, and recruited, a man named Dan Sullivan to run against our distinguished Republican Senator, Dan Sullivan, in order to defraud, confuse, and obfuscate the Election, thereby taking votes away from the REAL Senator, Dan Sullivan," Trump wrote in a Wednesday afternoon post on Truth Social.
- "The Democrats' false statements were made under oath in Federal Court. Therefore, they perjured themselves, and should be liable for very serious consequences," he added.
- "Mary Peltola should suffer the Legal and Political consequences for what she has done, A FRAUD ON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, and Dan Sullivan should be allowed to run without either Mary Peltola or FAKE Dan Sullivan on the Ballot."
Peltola's campaign did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
- The campaign previously denied having recruited any other candidates into the race.
State of play: The Trump administration, concerned that Dan J. Sullivan could affect the race's outcome, has also sued Alaska to block certification of the Senate election results if incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan narrowly loses, pending an investigation into possible voter confusion.
- Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have sought to intervene in the lawsuit and asked a federal judge to dismiss it.
- The ACLU, League of Women Voters of Alaska and Common Cause are also seeking to join the case.
- Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, under which voters can rank candidates in order of preference.
What we're watching: How Peltola chooses to respond to Trump's remarks and if voters will be offended by the double-Sullivan scheme.
Go deeper: DOJ sues to delay Alaska election results if GOP incumbent loses
