Peltola rallies in Bethel, says she did not know about ballot trickery claims
The Democratic Senate candidate addressed supporters two days before the election, denying knowledge of a second Dan Sullivan on the ballot.
By Olivia Barnes ·
Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola addressed more than 100 supporters at the Bethel Veterans of Foreign Wars hall on Sunday. She spoke two days before the general election in which she seeks to defeat Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan.
Peltola addressed a New York Times report alleging her campaign recruited a second person named Dan Sullivan to appear on the ballot to confuse voters. She stated she had no prior knowledge of the tactic. "I did not know about any of this until I read it a few days ago in the New York Times," Peltola said. "I had no knowledge whatsoever, and I'm sure that I was kept out of it because they know I would never allow this."
She argued that the accusations serve as a distraction from policy issues such as fuel prices, salmon populations, and Medicaid funding. "In the spectrum of crazy things that you're accused of, I'm doing okay," Peltola told the crowd. She added that she does not need "sham candidates" to win the race.
State and federal officials are examining the allegations. Gov. Mike Dunleavy and U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman have opened separate investigations. Heyman said the newspaper article led to an increase in law enforcement resources in the state.
Legal challenges to the election process have also been active. U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit just hours before the Bethel rally. The suit had sought to delay or block certification of results if Sullivan lost. Peltola previously denied the ballot-stacking claims at a campaign event in Juneau.
Peltola described the race as extremely close, noting that recent polling shows her ahead by three points. She said the Alaska Native vote could be decisive. "This is a neck-and-neck race," she said. "I think one of the latest polls had me up by three, but that's the margin of error. It could be anybody's race."
The campaign is scheduled to hold a rally in Fairbanks on Monday, Nov. 2. It will then travel to Anchorage for events on Election Day.
Source: Alaska Public Media
