Dummy Sullivan in Alaska Senate race, Trump calls it a voter fraud

A namesake candidate in Alaska has sparked a political controversy ahead of the November 3 elections to the US House of Representatives and Senate, with President Donald Trump alleging voter fraud and demanding an investigation.Republican Senator Daniel Sullivan is facing Democrat Mary Peltola in a close contest, while another candidate named Daniel Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher with no party affiliation, is also on the ballot. The New York Times reported that the teacher's candidature was part of a coordinated effort by Peltola's team. Trump called for a Justice Department investigation into alleged voter fraud. His administration has claimed that Alaska Democrats recruited the namesake candidate to confuse voters and draw votes away from the Republican Sullivan.He accused Democrats of electoral fraud, demanding that Mary Peltola be removed from the ballot.

BREAKING: A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION has been launched into fraudulent Alaska Senate candidate DAN SULLIVAN, now confirmed by the NYT to be PLANTED by Democrats and Mary Peltola's people to siphon votes from the real GOP Senator — Fox President Trump just said Peltola and the fake Sullivan should be FORCED out of the race.

— Wwg1wga Potus White House (@Potus_Wwg1wga) October 30, 2026

There is no apparent legal bar on two candidates with the same name contesting an election. The ballot identifies one Sullivan as the incumbent and the other as having no party affiliation.Under US law, elections are administered by states, which decide who can appear on the ballot. The federal government has no role in that process, raising questions about whether a Justice Department case would hold up in court.
Meanwhile, opinion polls show Trump's Republican Party trailing nationwide, including in traditional Republican strongholds such as Alaska. The elections are being seen as an important test of Trump's policies and popularity. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday ordered an investigation into Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign after a report that people aligned with the campaign helped recruit a candidate with the same first and last name as her main opponent,