Key facts
- Democrats reportedly recruited spoiler candidates in Alaska's US Senate race, the New York Times reported.
- Aides to Senate Democratic nominee Mary Peltola worked with campaign lawyers and senior staff at Senate Democrats’ campaign arm to recruit two candidates.
- The recruited candidates could siphon votes from incumbent Republican US Senator Dan Sullivan.
- Gerald Heikes replaced Democrat David Leslie after Leslie was urged to withdraw.
- Peltola's former campaign manager said Peltola was aware of the effort but not directly involved.
- The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee denied involvement.
Democrats recruited potential spoilers in Alaska's US Senate race, the New York Times reported on Wednesday. Aides to Senate Democratic nominee Mary Peltola worked with campaign lawyers and senior staff at Senate Democrats’ campaign arm to recruit two candidates who could siphon votes from incumbent Republican US Senator Dan Sullivan.
Alaska's ranked-choice ballot will feature Sullivan, Peltola, a retired teacher whose name is also Dan Sullivan, and a longshot candidate named Gerald Heikes. Heikes replaced Democrat David Leslie after the progressive candidate was urged to withdraw. Elisa Rios, Peltola's former campaign manager, told the newspaper that Peltola was aware of the effort but not directly involved.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee denied involvement, with a spokesperson stating Republicans have a history of recruiting candidates to boost their own campaigns. Republican super PACs and a Democratic super PAC also sought to boost third-party candidates in the race.
The US Department of Justice preemptively filed suit in federal court last week to block certification of Alaska's election results if Sullivan narrowly loses his reelection bid. Lawyers for Peltola's campaign have asked the judge to dismiss the lawsuit.