Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is demanding that former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) come clean about reports that her Senate campaign recruited a candidate with the same name as the Republican incumbent to confuse voters—a tactic known as ballot-stacking.
In a statement provided to The Hill, Murkowski said the alleged scheme has no place in democratic elections. “While some may try to write this off as just how politics works now, ballot-stacking should have no place in our electoral process,” she said. “Run and win on your merits: your views, your policy ideas, and your accomplishments.”
Murkowski, who has a history of breaking with her party, accused Peltola’s campaign of fostering a “culture of deception.” She continued: “Alaskans deserve the honest truth from Mary and her campaign—what has been revealed is a pattern of lies and coverups and a culture of deception that belongs nowhere in our elections or among our elected officials.”
The controversy stems from a New York Times report on Wednesday revealing that Peltola’s campaign, working with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, attempted to recruit a candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.—the same name as the Republican incumbent, Sen. Dan Sullivan. The goal, according to the report, was to split the conservative vote and improve Peltola’s chances in the ranked-choice election.
Both the Peltola campaign and the DSCC have denied any involvement. “The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. Like Mary, our campaign is focused on lowering costs and fixing the rigged system in DC and did not recruit any candidates into the race,” the campaign said in a statement.
The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit seeking to block certification of the election if Sullivan loses, arguing that the presence of a name-twin on the ballot could confuse voters. Alaska’s GOP-led state government has moved to dismiss the case, a development that echoes earlier legal challenges to the state’s election procedures.
Murkowski has been a vocal opponent of the DOJ lawsuit, saying on social media, “Alaskans don’t need any help voting for their preferred candidates, and the State of Alaska has already handled this by clearly distinguishing the candidates on this year’s ballot.” She added, “The Department of Justice should never have filed this lawsuit.”
President Trump has weighed in, declaring on Truth Social that both Peltola and the fake Dan Sullivan should be removed from the ballot and prosecuted. His comments add a new layer of political tension to an already heated race, as Republicans escalate their attacks on Peltola over the alleged scheme.
The alleged tactic is not illegal under federal law, but it has sparked a broader debate about election integrity in Alaska. The state’s ranked-choice voting system, which was introduced in 2020, has been a point of contention, with some Republicans calling for its repeal. The Senate GOP is also preparing for a potential floor fight over whether to seat Peltola if she wins, given the ongoing legal challenges.
As the story develops, Murkowski’s call for transparency puts pressure on Peltola to address the allegations directly. The senator’s stance is notable, as she has often been a maverick in her party, but here she aligns with many Republicans in condemning the reported scheme.
