Mary Peltola’s Alaska Senate campaign is facing new scrutiny over an alleged effort to recruit additional candidates, including another man named Dan Sullivan, into the race against Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.
The controversy intensified after The New York Times reported that a Peltola campaign staffer was instructed in the summer of 2025 to search for Alaska residents named Dan Sullivan while Peltola was considering a Senate campaign.
According to the report, the staffer went through voter records and compiled a list of people across the state who shared the senator’s name.
The effort reportedly centered on recruiting Dan J. Sullivan as a candidate in the race, potentially creating confusion with Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, who is seeking reelection against Peltola, the Democratic nominee and a former member of Congress.
The Peltola campaign has repeatedly denied involvement in Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy.
The Times, however, reported that interviews, text messages and documents prepared for a possible lawsuit indicated that people connected to Peltola’s campaign worked with individuals attempting to recruit Sullivan.
The report further alleged that the effort extended beyond finding another candidate named Dan Sullivan.
According to The Times, the group also sought other potential candidates who could enter the race and potentially divide support that otherwise might go to the incumbent Republican.
The newspaper also reported that lawyers associated with the Peltola campaign and senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee were involved in discussions surrounding the effort.
A former campaign manager and aide told The Times that Peltola herself was not directly involved in the operation but was “definitely aware.”
Both the Peltola campaign and the DSCC denied participating in efforts to recruit spoiler candidates onto the Alaska ballot.
Peltola was questioned about the report Wednesday afternoon, but her response drew additional scrutiny [1] rather than putting the controversy to rest.
Per @MattTunseth Peltola responds to the NYT Dan J Sullivan story by attacking the Times.
“This is all stuff to sell newspapers. This is all stuff to get subscriptions. Nobody at the New York Times cares about affordability in Alaska. This is just another distraction.”
— Alan He (@alanhe) October 28, 2026 [2]
Utterly horrible response-
Exactly what you might expect from a sociopath who physically abuses her staff and says she hopes constituents die of botched abortions.
— Matt Whitlock (@MattWhitlock) October 28, 2026 [3]
Critics also noted that her response did not include a direct denial of the central allegation that her campaign had knowledge of or involvement in attempts to recruit other candidates into the Senate contest.
Nowhere in this is a denial.
— S k y (@Skkyyyyyyyyyyy) October 28, 2026 [4]
The latest report adds to other controversies surrounding Peltola’s campaign.
Separate allegations have surfaced involving claims that she mistreated or behaved abusively toward staff members, showed condescension toward fellow Alaskans and expressed hostility toward special interest groups whose political support she needed.
Those allegations have added to the pressure surrounding her campaign as the Senate race enters its final stage.
The reported spoiler effort is also drawing attention because of an ongoing Department of Justice investigation.
The DOJ is reportedly conducting an “aggressive criminal investigation” into what critics have described as the “Decoy Dan” operation.
That investigation has reportedly been underway “for several months.”
Multiple grand jury subpoenas are also expected to be issued in connection with the matter.
The developing investigation raises the stakes beyond ordinary campaign tactics, particularly if federal authorities conclude that laws may have been violated during efforts to recruit or place additional candidates on the ballot.
The central question is whether the alleged activity was simply hard-edged political strategy or whether individuals connected to the effort crossed legal lines.
The Times’ reporting suggests that people associated with Peltola’s political operation were more involved in the effort than the campaign has publicly acknowledged.
At the same time, the report stated that Peltola was not directly involved, even though one former campaign official said she was aware of the project.
The DSCC has also denied participating in the recruitment of spoiler candidates, despite the report’s claim that senior aides from the organization were involved.
The controversy comes as Peltola attempts to defeat Sullivan in a closely watched Alaska Senate contest.
With the election approaching, the alleged “Decoy Dan” strategy, the campaign’s denials and the reported DOJ investigation have placed additional pressure on Peltola and her team.
If the reported grand jury subpoenas move forward, the dispute could continue well beyond Election Day and deepen questions about who authorized the effort, who participated in it and how much Peltola herself knew.