Alaska’s two ‘Dan Sullivans’: How common is ballot stacking, does it work?
Alaska's upcoming Senate ballot includes two candidates named Dan Sullivan – incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and retired teacher Daniel J Sullivan – prompting allegations of ballot stacking by Democrats.
The controversy has triggered a political firestorm in the US, with President Donald Trump ordering a Justice Department investigation into alleged voter fraud. "It was a scheme. It was election fraud. Total election fraud," Trump said. Peltola has rejected the accusations, stating the dispute is distracting from voters' concerns.
Ballot stacking allegations
Last week, The New York Times reported that aides to Mary Peltola helped recruit candidates with names similar to Sullivan's in an apparent bid to manipulate the ballot. US Attorney Michael Heyman said Democrats had "orchestrated a sprawling conspiracy to recruit and prop up Daniel J Sullivan as a sham candidate".
I knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent. That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters.
Strategy effectiveness
The strategy, commonly called "ballot stacking", involves recruiting candidates not to win but to influence vote distribution. Past instances show the tactic can work. In Florida's 2020 state Senate race, Republican operative Frank Artiles allegedly paid Alex Rodriguez to run against Democrat Jose Javier Rodriguez to confuse voters.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered a criminal investigation following the Times report. The race is considered key to control of the US Senate, with four candidates now on the ballot including the two Sullivans.
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