Alaska governor: Election certification ‘could be stopped’ due to Peltola probe

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy said certification of the state’s US Senate election could be stopped or changed if an investigation finds wrongdoing connected to the candidacy of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. He was responding to allegations that Democratic operatives recruited the candidate, who shares a name with Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan, to confuse voters and help Democratic challenger Mary Peltola. Dunleavy said the state would investigate and follow the law; he did not say wrongdoing had been established. Peltola has denied involvement, and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. has said he entered the race independently.

The remarks added uncertainty to a closely contested race, although Dunleavy’s statement did not itself halt certification. Alaska’s elections director is responsible under state law for certifying the result, while the governor has a separate role in issuing a senator’s credentials. The Justice Department also sought a court order delaying certification if the incumbent lost, but a federal judge dismissed that case on 1 November, finding fault with its legal basis and its failure to explain how alleged voter confusion could be investigated while preserving ballot secrecy. A federal criminal investigation into the candidacy remained under way as voters went to the polls on 3 November.