Corruption & Accountability · Report · File No. 261029-841
Scott says Peltola 'will be held accountable' as federal probe of Alaska ballot grows
Sen. Tim Scott, the GOP's Senate campaign chief, vowed accountability for Mary Peltola after a Times report on a second 'Dan Sullivan.' We could not confirm that he formally asked the Justice Department to investigate.
Every quote in this story (2) was matched word for word against its source. How we work
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the party's Senate campaign arm, has attacked Democrat Mary Peltola over a report on Alaska's Senate race. He said she "will be held accountable this election for her dishonesty and deception" 4. The race is six days from Election Day.
Our fact desk could not confirm in the coverage we could read that Scott formally asked the Justice Department to open a case. His statement, as published by the NRSC, does not mention the department 4. Another Republican, Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri, did say the department should investigate whether the scheme violates a federal law on conspiracy against rights 4.
What the Times reported
The New York Times reported Wednesday that Peltola's campaign, her lawyers and senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) helped recruit Dan J. Sullivan to run. He has almost the same name as Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan 1. The Times cited 12 sources and said the effort was called the "ballot composition project" 1.
Peltola's campaign and the DSCC deny involvement 1. Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, has said Democrats did not recruit him. He says he is running because he disagrees with the senator's policies 2.
From Channel GOPPeltola: Tariffs doubled Alaska air taxi's parts billMary Peltola · 141 plays · captioned, with the source named
Elisa Rios, a former Peltola aide fired in August, told the Times that Peltola knew of the efforts but was not directly involved 2. ABC reports that Rios later asked for a retraction without giving a reason 1. These are allegations. No one has been charged.
Where the federal case stands
ABC News reports that the Justice Department has an active criminal investigation into Dan J. Sullivan's candidacy 1.
Separately, the department sued last week to pause certification of the Senate result if Sen. Sullivan narrowly loses 1. After the Times report, it dropped its opposition to the Peltola campaign joining that suit. It said it intends to seek "expedited discovery," meaning fast evidence-gathering, on the reported conspiracy 2.
The state of Alaska is pushing back. Its Department of Law said placing candidates on the ballot is a matter of state law, not federal law 1. Alaska courts earlier found Dan J. Sullivan's candidacy legal 1. Legal experts have questioned the federal suit's legal basis 2.
Who said what
President Trump said Peltola should resign from the race and be prosecuted criminally 2. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, said "ballot-stacking should have no place in our electoral process" 2.
Why it matters
That matters because the Justice Department is now both a litigant and a possible investigator in a race that could help decide Senate control. Voters will want to see evidence before accepting the claims on either side.
Peltola finished first in August's primary with 49.5%. Sen. Sullivan had 41.4% and Dan J. Sullivan had 2.5% 1. What happens next depends on Judge Sharon Gleason, who expressed skepticism of the Justice Department's strategy Monday 13.
The Record
- Alaska primary results: Peltola 49.5%, Sen. Sullivan 41.4%, Dan J. Sullivan 2.5% (approximate month; ABC gives the vote shares for 'August' 1).
- The New York Times reports Peltola campaign aides and DSCC staff helped recruit Dan J. Sullivan; Peltola's campaign and the DSCC deny it 12.
- The Justice Department drops its opposition to the Peltola campaign joining its suit and says it will seek expedited discovery 2.
Sources
- ABC News, “Peltola campaign under fire after report that it recruited second Dan Sullivan for Alaska Senate race” (2026-10-28). abcnews.com/Politics/peltola-campaign-fire-after-report-recr
- Anchorage Daily News, “NYT report: Peltola campaign, national Democrats helped get Sen. Sullivan's namesake challenger on ballot” (2026-10-28). adn.com/politics/2026/10/28/nyt-report-peltola-campaign-nati
- Fox News, “Alaska Senate spoiler scheme under scrutiny; Trump in Ohio for final-week push” (2026-10-28). foxnews.com/live-news/midterm-elections-2026-trump-ohio-midt
- NRSC, “WTAS: Peltola's Illegal Scheme Shows 'A Pattern of Lies'” (2026-10-28). nrsc.org/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-peltolas-illega
Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.
More from the files
Trump demands Peltola quit Alaska Senate race and be prosecuted over spoiler report
Six days before the midterm election, the president seized on a New York Times report that Peltola's campaign and Senate Democratic aides helped recruit a second Dan Sullivan. Peltola and the DSCC deny involvement, and a federal judge could rule on the Justice Department's lawsuit this week.
Times report links Peltola campaign to recruiting second Dan Sullivan in Alaska
A New York Times investigation says aides to Democrat Mary Peltola and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee helped recruit a challenger named Daniel J. Sullivan to siphon votes from Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Both campaigns deny it, and a federal judge is fast-tracking a Justice Department suit over the ballot.
DOJ calls a narrow Peltola win in Alaska a 'tainted victory' in suit over namesake
The Justice Department says a close Democratic win in Alaska's Senate race would be 'tainted' by a second candidate named Sullivan. A judge plans to rule by Thursday, days before the Nov. 3 election.
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