Alaska Governor Orders Probe After Report on Same-Name Candidate in Senate Race
A New York Times report alleges Mary Peltola's Senate campaign recruited a man sharing Dan Sullivan's name to run. Peltola denies it, and Gov. Mike Dunleavy has directed public safety to investigate.
The New York Times published a report on Wednesday alleging that Mary Peltola's Senate campaign recruited a man with the same name as her opponent, Dan Sullivan, to run, according to The Hill. For voters who expect a race to be decided on the level, that allegation is the story — and it is an allegation, not a finding.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into whether the Peltola campaign violated state law. He wrote on social media that he was "directing the department of public safety to investigate whether this scheme violated Alaska's laws and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted". The Hill reported the order came Wednesday evening; NBC News reported the announcement on Thursday.
Mary Peltola denied the allegations, according to CBS News. Those inclined to distrust the national press will see a newspaper report rather than a charge; her supporters will say the same. What is not in dispute is that state investigators are now being asked whether Alaska's own laws were broken.
The episode lands with the midterm elections days away. A CNN poll found that 49% of likely voters in Texas would back James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, and projected tighter Senate contests in Kansas and Maine — horse-race numbers that voters skeptical of national media and political elites tend to treat with caution.
Original reporting
BBC News
Alaska governor orders probe into Democratic campaign's alleged links to same-name candidate
The Republican governor was responding to allegations in the New York Times that Democrats recruited a spoiler candidate, Dan Sullivan.
Read the original →The Guardian
Democrats lead Texas and Michigan Senate races, new poll shows; turmoil in Alaska as governor orders campaign investigation – live
James Talarico and Abdul El-Sayed are favored among likely voters in Texas and Michigan, respectively, latest CNN poll finds; Dunleavy orders inquiry into Mary Peltola’s campaign Alaska governor orders investigation into Peltola’s Senate campaign Sign up for the Breaking News US email With days until the midterm elections, a new poll from CNN places Democrats well in the lead in key Senate races in Texas and Michigan, while projecting tighter contests in Kansas and Maine. In Texas, the poll found 49% of likely voters would back James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, over Republican Ken…
Read the original →The Guardian
Alaska governor orders investigation into Democrat Mary Peltola’s Senate campaign
Republican Mike Dunleavy plans search after Peltola accused of recruiting Dan Sullivan to confuse voters The Republican governor of Alaska announced plans to launch a criminal investigation after a report accused the campaign of the Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola of trying to confuse voters by recruiting a candidate with the same name as her opponent. Governor Mike Dunleavy wrote on social media that he was “directing the department of public safety to investigate whether this scheme violated Alaska’s laws and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted”. Continue…
Facts this version was allowed to use
- Mary Peltola is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Alaska.
- Dan Sullivan is the Republican incumbent U.S. senator from Alaska.
- Mike Dunleavy is the Republican governor of Alaska.
- The New York Times published a report alleging that Mary Peltola's campaign recruited a man with the same name as her opponent, Dan Sullivan, to run.
- The New York Times report was published on Wednesday, according to The Hill.
- Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into whether Mary Peltola's Senate campaign violated state law.
- The Hill reported that Dunleavy ordered the investigation on Wednesday evening.
- NBC News reported that Dunleavy announced the investigation on Thursday.
- Mike Dunleavy wrote on social media that he was "directing the department of public safety to investigate whether this scheme violated Alaska's laws and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted".
- Mary Peltola denied the allegations, according to CBS News.
- A CNN poll found that 49% of likely voters in Texas would back James Talarico, the Democratic nominee, over Republican Ken.
- James Talarico is the Democratic nominee in the Texas Senate race.
- Abdul El-Sayed is favored among likely voters in Michigan, according to the CNN poll.
- 49% of likely voters in Texas would back James Talarico, per the CNN poll.
- The CNN poll projected tighter Senate contests in Kansas and Maine.
- The midterm elections were days away at the time of reporting.
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