Comer says it's 'a big possibility' Peltola won't be seated if she wins Alaska Senate race

Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee, said Sunday that Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola might not be seated in the U.S. Senate even if she wins on Tuesday. On Fox, host Larry Kudlow asked whether she could be denied a seat if she wins. Comer called that "a big possibility" ³.

We could only confirm Comer's remark through a summary of the Fox exchange ³. We could not load a full transcript, so we have not quoted anything beyond those three words.

On tapeAssociated Press · Oct 31

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What is behind the threat

The New York Times reported last week that Peltola's campaign was directly involved in recruiting Dan J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher, to run. The Times described him as a spoiler candidate, meaning someone who could pull votes from Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan because of the shared name ¹. Peltola's campaign denied the report ¹.

Peltola said Thursday in Juneau that she knew nothing about it. The Associated Press reported that the Justice Department has issued grand jury subpoenas, and that more were expected. The subpoenas followed the Times report ². Alaska's Republican governor, Mike Dunleavy, has also ordered an investigation ¹.

From Channel GOPPeltola: Social Security is the number one issueMary Peltola · 124 plays · captioned, with the source named

No charges have been reported in the coverage we reviewed. CNBC noted that ballot-stacking is typically not illegal and that both parties have used it. It also reported that Alaska's Supreme Court upheld Dan J. Sullivan's place on the ballot in an earlier challenge ¹.

Trump and Sullivan weigh in

President Trump questioned on Thursday whether Peltola could be seated if she won. He said, "It's hard to believe that she could even be allowed to run" ².

On tapeC-SPAN · Oct 29

▶1:21

Sen. Dan Sullivan took a different line. On CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday, he said he would accept Tuesday's results even if he loses ¹. He also accused Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senate campaign arm of cheating because they could not run on their record ¹. That is his accusation, and Peltola denies it.

Peltola has rejected the claims. "I am not interested in tricking voters," she said ². In a KTUU interview Friday she said, "I've won statewide before, on my own merits, without any tricks involved" ¹.

Why it matters

That matters because the people discussing a refusal to seat a winner are the same ones running the investigations. Comer chairs a House committee. The Justice Department, which answers to Trump, is running a criminal probe and has sued Alaska ¹².

Cook Political Report rates the race a toss-up, and Peltola holds a slight edge in a polling average ¹. Whoever wins, the open question is whether Republicans will accept an Alaska voter-made result. Sullivan himself says he will ¹.

The Record

1. Oct 28, 2026The New York Times reported that Peltola's campaign was involved in recruiting a second Dan Sullivan to run; her campaign denied it ¹.
2. Oct 29, 2026Trump questioned whether Peltola could be seated if she won ².
3. Nov 1, 2026Comer said it is 'a big possibility' Peltola would not be seated; Sen. Sullivan said he would accept the results ¹³.

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<h2>Comer says it&#39;s &#39;a big possibility&#39; Peltola won&#39;t be seated if she wins Alaska Senate race</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Capitol Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/comer-says-it-s-a-big-possibility-peltola-won-t-be-seated-if-she-wins-alaska-senate">The GOP Files</a> on Sunday, November 1, 2026.</em></p> <p>Rep. James Comer, a Kentucky Republican who chairs the House Oversight Committee, said Sunday that Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola might not be seated in the U.S. Senate even if she wins on Tuesday. On Fox, host Larry Kudlow asked whether she could be denied a seat if she wins. Comer called that &quot;a big possibility&quot; .</p> <p>We could only confirm Comer&#39;s remark through a summary of the Fox exchange . We could not load a full transcript, so we have not quoted anything beyond those three words.</p> <h2>What is behind the threat</h2> <p>The New York Times reported last week that Peltola&#39;s campaign was directly involved in recruiting Dan J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher, to run. The Times described him as a spoiler candidate, meaning someone who could pull votes from Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan because of the shared name . Peltola&#39;s campaign denied the report .</p> <p>Peltola said Thursday in Juneau that she knew nothing about it. The Associated Press reported that the Justice Department has issued grand jury subpoenas, and that more were expected. The subpoenas followed the Times report . Alaska&#39;s Republican governor, Mike Dunleavy, has also ordered an investigation .</p> <p>No charges have been reported in the coverage we reviewed. CNBC noted that ballot-stacking is typically not illegal and that both parties have used it. It also reported that Alaska&#39;s Supreme Court upheld Dan J. Sullivan&#39;s place on the ballot in an earlier challenge .</p> <h2>Trump and Sullivan weigh in</h2> <p>President Trump questioned on Thursday whether Peltola could be seated if she won. He said, &quot;It&#39;s hard to believe that she could even be allowed to run&quot; .</p> <p>Sen. Dan Sullivan took a different line. On CNN&#39;s &quot;State of the Union&quot; Sunday, he said he would accept Tuesday&#39;s results even if he loses . He also accused Peltola&#39;s campaign and the Democratic Senate campaign arm of cheating because they could not run on their record . That is his accusation, and Peltola denies it.</p> <p>Peltola has rejected the claims. &quot;I am not interested in tricking voters,&quot; she said . In a KTUU interview Friday she said, &quot;I&#39;ve won statewide before, on my own merits, without any tricks involved&quot; .</p> <h2>Why it matters</h2> <p>That matters because the people discussing a refusal to seat a winner are the same ones running the investigations. Comer chairs a House committee. The Justice Department, which answers to Trump, is running a criminal probe and has sued Alaska .</p> <p>Cook Political Report rates the race a toss-up, and Peltola holds a slight edge in a polling average . Whoever wins, the open question is whether Republicans will accept an Alaska voter-made result. Sullivan himself says he will .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/comer-says-it-s-a-big-possibility-peltola-won-t-be-seated-if-she-wins-alaska-senate">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/comer-says-it-s-a-big-possibility-peltola-won-t-be-seated-if-she-wins-alaska-senate.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. CNBC, “Alaska Sen. Sullivan says he'll accept election results, slams Peltola campaign's reported recruitment of 2nd Sullivan” (2026-11-01). cnbc.com/2026/11/01/alaska-senate-election-dan-sullivan-pelt
2. AP via Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, “Alaska hopeful denies claims as DOJ issues new subpoenas” (2026-10-30). arkansasonline.com/news/2026/oct/30/alaska-hopeful-denies-cl
3. MeidasPlus, “Sunday Afternoon Updates: Haley Stevens Goes Mask Off, Judge Tosses Trump's Alaska Suit, MAGA's Early Vote Collapses” (2026-11-01). meidasplus.com/p/sunday-afternoon-updates-haley-stevens

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