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Alaska Governor Probes 'Decoy Dan' Election Scheme

Updated 5:19 PM ET · 11:37 AM ETConfirmed

Politics Desk

In Short: Dunleavy told Fox News Digital that the alleged 'Decoy Dan' ballot scheme exposes a major vulnerability in the state's election system, arguing that the controversy would not have occurred under traditional primaries.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered an investigation into Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign after allegations that they recruited a candidate with the same name as her opponent, Sen. Dan Sullivan.

According to the New York Times, the operation began with instructions to search voter records for Alaskans named Dan Sullivan, leading to the recruitment of retired teacher Dan Sullivan of Petersburg, known as 'Decoy Dan,' who is now on the general election ballot.

The governor said the Alaska Division of Elections investigated these concerns in June, but new evidence uncovered by the Times has prompted a fresh probe.

Dunleavy told Fox News Digital that the alleged 'Decoy Dan' ballot scheme exposes a major vulnerability in the state's election system, arguing that the controversy would not have occurred under traditional primaries.

Alaska's election system advances the top four finishers from a nonpartisan primary to a general election, which Dunleavy believes has led to this situation.

The governor warned that if this was a historical primary, the second Dan Sullivan would not have gotten out of the primary.

Dunleavy emphasized the need for an election system that ensures integrity and transparency, stating, 'Our job as executives are to make sure that we can provide our people with an election that everyone could look at it and say that was done with integrity.'

Peltola’s campaign has denied any involvement in the scheme, with a spokesperson saying, 'The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. Like Mary, our campaign is focused on lowering costs and fixing the rigged system in DC.'

The investigation shifts attention from the political fallout to whether investigators can establish violations of Alaska law.

President Donald Trump has called for the accused fraudsters to be booted from the race and made to face legal consequences.

It is also possible that the Peltola-Decoy Dan scheme violates federal law because it deliberately confuses voters and tries to trick them into voting for the wrong person.

The evidence will determine what happens next, according to the governor.

Background

What's confirmed

• According to the Times, the operation began with instructions to search voter records for Alaskans named Dan Sullivan.
• Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) ordered an investigation into whether members of Democrat Mary Peltola’s Senate campaign should face charges for possible election manipulation regarding “Decoy Dan” Sullivan.
• Not Dan Sullivan, registered Republican incumbent, voted for this war in Iran 14 times.
• “The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. Like Mary, our campaign is focused on lowering costs and fixing the rigged system in DC,” a campaign spokesperson said.
• The Times reports that an effort internally called the “ballot composition project” sought potential candidates who could dilute support for Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, including another Alaska resident named Dan Sullivan.
• At a rally in Soldotna today, US Senate candidate Mary Peltola said the media’s focus should be on Alaska’s high cost of living and Sen. Sullivan’s support of the war in Iran — not who is on the ballot.

What's still developing

• The Petersburg Sullivan has maintained that he entered the race independently, however his claim appears weak due to several coincidences, including the fact that Peltola visited Petersburg just before he filed for office.
• "We're compelled to do an investigation on behalf of the people of Alaska, because as they say in Alaska, which is a big fish state, if you can smell the fish way far from the dock, you've got a real problem," Dunleavy said.
• Dunleavy said The New York Times uncovered details that state officials did not have when they initially challenged the second Sullivan's candidacy this past summer — including alleged involvement by operatives connected to Democratic nominee Mary Peltola.
• Related : Washington State Stonewalls Feds Over 400 Noncitizen Voter “So they got a guy named Dan Sullivan to go up against on the ballot [against Sen.] Dan, so you split — It's called splitting the vote, totally wrong, totally illegal,” Trump argued.
• The newspaper reported that the undertaking, known internally as the “ballot composition project,” extended beyond finding another Sullivan.
• The New York Times on Wednesday published a blockbuster story claiming that multiple former staffers on the campaign of Alaska Democratic Senatorial nominee Mary Peltola implicated her and others in the effort to confuse voters with decoy “Dan Sullivan” candidates.
• Chris Murphy (D-CT) immediately ran out to do damage control and depict Rio as a “disgruntled former employee.” The problem is that it is not just Rio.
• “Nobody at the New York Times cares about affordability in Alaska.” pic.twitter.com/Ptg9kEOAtH Donations tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. a.
• The reported DSCC involvement with what critics describe as the “Decoy Dan” extends the controversy to the national Democratic organization responsible for winning Senate races.
• Sullivan loses, complaining that his defeat may be unfair in light of “Decoy Dan” being in the race.

Sources

• Alaska Storylink
• Fox Newslink
• Le·gal In·sur·rec·tionlink
• Washington Examinerlink
• Clayandbucklink
• Pjmedialink
• Thealaskastorylink
• Jonathanturleylink
• Legalinsurrectionlink
• Washingtonexaminerlink
• Nypostlink
• Alaskawatchmanlink
• WarpBeat — background on Peltola Denies Involvement in 'Decoy Dan' Scheme link
• WarpBeat — background on Alaska Governor Orders Probe Into Peltola's Campaign Over 'Decoy Dan' link
• CBS News — video link