A New York Times investigation revealed that Democrat operatives in Alaska worked with aides for Mary Peltola’s Senate campaign to recruit a second candidate named Dan Sullivan, whose candidacy threatens to confuse voters in Peltola’s race against incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK).
The investigation, published Wednesday, details what participants called a “ballot composition project,” an effort that reportedly involved Peltola campaign staff, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) officials, political consultants, and an operative who traveled around Alaska under a false name to recruit potential candidates.
For months, Republicans have accused Democrats of coordinating the effort to get a second Dan Sullivan on the ballot to confuse voters and help Peltola win a Senate seat that could determine control of the chamber. The report raises questions about the Peltola campaign’s repeated denials it played any role in recruiting candidates to confuse voters.
The Times reported that in the summer of 2025, a Peltola staffer received instructions from senior campaign aides to search voter records for as many people named Dan Sullivan as possible. The plan eventually led to Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from the remote fishing village of Petersburg, announcing his Senate candidacy this spring. Dan J. Sullivan has maintained that he entered the race independently.
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According to the Times, former Peltola campaign manager Elisa Rios said Democrat operatives identified Dan J. Sullivan as a potential recruit and discussed whether his candidacy could benefit Peltola. Rios told the newspaper that Peltola herself was not directly involved in the project but was “definitely aware.”
The campaign has repeatedly denied recruiting candidates.
“The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign and did not recruit any candidates into the race,” the campaign told the Times.
The Daily Wire reached out to Peltola’s campaign seeking further comment.
The DSCC also denied involvement, saying it had no role in recruiting Sullivan or any other Republican candidate.
Tim Scott, the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, blasted Peltola’s campaign after the Times published its investigation.
“Peltola will be held accountable this election for her dishonesty and deception. Alaskans will leave Peltola unranked on the ballot because of her dirty tricks,” Scott told The Daily Wire. “Voters can trust the real Dan Sullivan, and I’m confident he’ll be re-elected.”
The Times reviewed text messages and interviewed 12 people who participated in or were informed about the operation. The newspaper reported that messages showed Peltola campaign aides and DSCC officials discussing the project over several months, sharing updates and considering ways to shape the field of candidates.
One operative, Jerid Kurtz, reportedly traveled through Alaska using the name “Zane” while approaching leftist candidates. Matthew Salisbury, a former congressional candidate who ultimately declined to run for Senate, told the Times that the man who recruited him offered the possibility of outside support and would not disclose who was funding the effort. Salisbury identified Kurtz from a photograph.
The Times also reported that the effort extended beyond the second Sullivan. Operatives reportedly sought to recruit other candidates who could draw support from Republicans. After Democrat David Leslie withdrew from the race in August, Republican Gerald Heikes advanced to the general election ballot, leaving Peltola as the only Democrat facing three candidates identified as Republicans or unaffiliated.
The investigation also uncovered financial records showing that the pro-Peltola super PAC, 49th State PAC, paid approximately $87,000 to Wingspan Strategies, a firm co-owned by Kurtz. The PAC denied hiring or paying Kurtz for services. Political consultant Jim Lottsfeldt, who works with super PACs aligned with Peltola, also denied participating in a scheme to support spoiler candidates.
The alleged operation included discussions about creating a new political party to attract conservative voters. In a January text exchange reviewed by the Times, Peltola’s then-campaign manager, Anton McParland, floated the idea of a “MAGA party” to DSCC campaign director Andrew Piatt, who responded, “Smart. Let’s see.” The idea ultimately fizzled.
The report comes after Republicans spent months accusing Democrats of recruiting the second Sullivan to siphon votes from the incumbent. Alaska election officials initially removed the challenger from the ballot over concerns about whether his candidacy was in good faith, but the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that he could remain. The ballot distinguishes the two men by their full names, party affiliation, and incumbent status.
President Donald Trump lambasted Democrats over their apparent tactics in Alaska in a video earlier this month.
“It’s cheating. It’s a spoiler candidate to go on the ballot with the exact same name as your great Senator Dan Sullivan. This guy’s name is Dan Sullivan. He knew nothing about politics.” Trump said. “He was just put there by the Democrats to confuse the voters, and it’s very unfair. But that’s what they do. They cheat. They lie. They steal.”
The Justice Department has separately sued Alaska election officials, seeking to block certification of the Senate results if the incumbent loses and a subsequent investigation determines that confusion over the two Sullivans could have affected the outcome. Trump said he personally directed the department to pursue the lawsuit. The legal action has drawn criticism from Peltola, state officials, and election-law experts, who argue that the federal government lacks authority to intervene in the state’s certification process.
Reached for comment by The Daily Wire about the latest development, the White House pointed to Director of Communications Steven Cheung’s reaction on X.
“Democrats’ secret, CORRUPT plan to stack Alaska’s ballot EXPOSED!” Cheung wrote.
Peltola and Sullivan are locked in a competitive race with the most recent polls showing Peltola holding a narrow lead.
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