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Peltola's Campaign Linked to Scheme to Recruit Spoiler Candidate
· Confirmed
In Short: Mary Peltola's campaign is accused of recruiting a second candidate named Dan Sullivan to split votes in Alaska's Senate race.
The New York Times reported that Peltola’s campaign was involved in efforts to recruit a second candidate named Dan Sullivan to run in the Senate race, a move aimed at splitting the Republican vote.
According to the report, Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) were involved in the so-called 'ballot composition project,' which aimed to find and encourage another Dan Sullivan to run.
Elisa Rios, Peltola’s former campaign manager, told the Times that while Peltola was not directly involved, she was 'definitely aware' of the project.
The project involved secret trips to Alaskan communities and the appearance of a mysterious Midwestern operative who used a fake name to recruit potential candidates over beers at local pubs.
Documents and text messages reviewed by the Times showed that Peltola’s campaign aides, lawyers, and DSCC staffers were involved in pushing other candidates, including the second Dan Sullivan.
Fox News and Breitbart News reported that the effort was designed to peel votes away from incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, benefiting Peltola.
The Times reported that Peltola’s campaign denied any involvement in recruiting the second Dan Sullivan, while the DSCC stated it had no role in the project.
Oann and Thepostmillennial reported that the second Dan Sullivan, who entered the race voluntarily, finished third in the August primary with about 2.5% of the vote.
The Federal Election Commission records show that a pro-Peltola super PAC paid Wingspan Strategies, which is co-owned by Kurtz, approximately $87,000.
The Times also reported that a consultant for Peltola’s campaign appeared to mock focus group participants in a text message, writing, 'Do we have a scheme for you.'
While Peltola’s campaign denied involvement, the Times reported that Peltola was aware of the project.
The Trump administration’s Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking to preemptively block certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate race if the state certifies the results tainted by the inclusion of the second Dan Sullivan.
Background
Bruce added that Peltola is disappointed the accident is delaying the start of her 'Alaska Always Tour,' an eight-stop campaign push through the last week before Election Day.
What's confirmed
- “There was a lot of speculation, and voters should get the full picture when making their decisions,” Rios said.
- According to the outlet, the effort to find a second Dan Sullivan candidate to go on the ballot was reportedly “internally called the ballot composition project” which “involved the Peltola’s campaign’s lawyers, as well as senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee”: The endeavor, which was internally called the ballot composition project, involved secret trips to far-flung Alaskan communities and the appearance of a mysterious Midwestern operative, who traversed the state using a fake name and made his pitch to would-be candidates over beers at brew pubs.
What's still developing
- According to the detailed investigative report, individuals tied to Peltola’s political circle actively sought out and encouraged another person sharing the name of Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan to enter the race, a strategic maneuver intended to induce voter confusion and peel away vital votes on Alaska’s ranked-choice voting ballot.
- Sullivan and President Trump, have long accused Democrats of engineering a “decoy” candidacy.
- The intention seemed obvious: The false Sullivan is trying to siphon off some votes from the real Sullivan in hopes of benefiting the actual challenger, Democratic candidate Mary Peltola.
- Elisa Rios, Peltola's former campaign manager, willingly admitted all this to the Times, claiming that voters deserved to know the truth; reading between the lines, it seems like she's a disgruntled former employee.
- Sullivan, a completely unknown person who is not actively campaigning for the seat.
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