Trump demands Alaska candidates be removed over alleged ballot scheme
US President Donald Trump has called for the removal and prosecution of two candidates in Alaska's Senate race, accusing Democrats of orchestrating a ballot scheme to mislead voters.
Trump's demand on Wednesday followed a New York Times investigation into efforts by people linked to Democrat Mary Peltola's campaign to recruit candidates who could draw support from Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. The November 3 vote could help determine control of the US Senate, Congress's upper chamber.
Ballot scheme allegations
In Truth Social posts, Trump accused Peltola and Daniel J Sullivan Jr of election fraud, calling for both to be removed from the ballot and prosecuted. He described the alleged operation as "Voter Fraud at the Highest Level" and accused Democrats of lying under oath.
Recruiting candidates to split an opponent's vote – a practice known as ballot stacking – is generally legal and has been used by both parties in Alaska.
Investigation details
The Times reported the effort began in 2025 when a Peltola aide was asked to identify Alaskans named Dan Sullivan. Democratic operative Jerid Kurtz was identified as a recruiter who approached potential candidates, sometimes under an assumed name.
Peltola's former campaign manager Elisa Rios told the Times that Peltola knew about the operation but did not participate directly. Rios later sought to withdraw her statements, though the newspaper said other evidence supported its reporting.
Legal battle
The state's Supreme Court upheld the retired teacher's right to stand in June. Trump's Justice Department sued Alaska last week, seeking to delay certification if Senator Sullivan loses and votes for his namesake could have affected the outcome. Alaska has asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing it lacks legal grounds.
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