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Peltola tells Juneau rally ‘I am not interested in tricking voters’
Democratic U.S. Senate challenger under fire for campaign’s alleged recruiting of spoiler candidates with same name as incumbent Dan Sullivan repeats denial of involvement
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola denies involvement in an alleged effort to recruit spoiler candidates during a rally at The Crystal Saloon on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Independent)
By Mark Sabbatini
Juneau Independent
This is a developing story.
Mary Peltola at a rally in Juneau on Thursday night repeated denials of involvement in an alleged effort by her U.S. Senate campaign and Democratic party officials to recruit candidates with the same name as incumbent Republican Dan S. Sullivan.
"I just want to clear the air — I knew nothing about any other candidates on the ballot except for me and the incumbent," she said moments after taking the stage at The Crystal Saloon and greeting the crowd that filled the room. "That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters."
The denial came as pressure mounted Thursday from federal and state politicians — including President Donald Trump and Gov. Mike Dunleavy, both of whom have declared the allegations a criminal matter. The U.S. Department of Justice reportedly issued a wave of subpoenas related to a criminal investigation of Dunleavy said certification of the election could be “stopped or changed” as he has also ordered a criminal probe.
Polls show Peltola narrowly leading Sullivan five days before Election Day in a race that is being nationally watched because it could determine which party controls the Senate during the final two years of Trump’s term. Her two-and-a-half-hour rally, most of which was spent with a long line of attendees waiting to exchange a few words and photos taken, was part of a day of events in Juneau before she spends the final days of the campaign in several communities around the state.
Allegations her campaign lured retired Petersburg teacher Dan J. Sullivan into the race to confuse voters were first raised after he became a candidate in May, with the Alaska Supreme Court ultimately overturning an effort by the Dunleavy administration to remove him from the ballot.
But the matter turned into a political firestorm on Wednesday when The New York Times cited documents and interviews with a dozen people to report a much broader effort by the Peltola campaign to recruit multiple people named Dan Sullivan, as well as other spoiler candidates.
Peltola’s campaign, Democratic leaders named in the Times story and Dan J. Sullivan have denied allegations of ballot stacking. The campaign tactic has been used many times over the years and is generally legal, according to the Times. But among the questions being raised by Trump and Dunleavy in the criminal probes is if statements under oath or legal documents in court hearings might constitute perjury if such collaboration existed.
DOJ has also filed a lawsuit, which Trump says he ordered, to keep the election from being certified if Peltola wins by fewer votes than Dan J. Sullivan receives. Legal experts have called the lawsuit, which names the State of Alaska as the defendant, legally dubious since the federal government doesn’t have the authority to intervene in state-run elections.
Attendees at the rally interviewed by the Juneau Independent said their support of Peltola wasn’t affected by the allegations reported by the Times.
"There may be some disaffected staff members, but I don't know," said Jim Talpey, a registered Republican who said he’s voting for Peltola and believes her denial of involvement. "I mean, if a guy named Dan Sullivan wants to run for governor or for Senate I don't know how you can stop him."
Some concerns were expressed by other Juneau residents interviewed on Thursday by the Associated Press.
Carter Bancroft said he’s an independent who voted Thursday for Peltola. But he also said the latest claims have bothered him and worries they give “ammunition” to Trump and others to attack Peltola or other Democratic candidates.
“And I think I’m bothered by shenanigans on either side," Bancroft said, especially actions intended “to confuse things or try to trick people.”
John Delgado, an independent who leans Republican, told the Associated Press he has “warmed up” to Sen. Sullivan, especially in light of the recent claims. He agrees that Peltola should drop out of the race.
Peltola was introduced at Thursday’s rally by state Sen. Jesse Kiehl, D-Juneau, who said in an interview after her appearance "I think the most important decision Alaskans can make is who do we want to do what work for the next six years."
"There is a sad, ugly reality that sometimes people try to play dirty tricks and do dumb stuff, and it would be really unfortunate if somebody on my team did that," he said.
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.
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