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Schumer accused of yearlong plot to plant ‘decoy’ candidate in critical Senate race
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso has accused Chuck Schumer and Mary Peltola’s campaign of helping recruit a second candidate named Dan Sullivan to run against Alaska’s Republican incumbent, allegedly to confuse voters and benefit Peltola. The allegations have intensified a political dispute over the state’s Senate race, while Democrats have denied national party involvement and Peltola says she knew nothing of the other candidate.
Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system means both Dan Sullivans, Peltola and Gerald Heikes will appear on the same ballot. The claims, reported by The New York Times, have prompted legal battles and criticism from Republicans, including Senator Lisa Murkowski, who said ballot-stacking has no place in elections. Schumer’s office and Peltola’s campaign did not respond to the article’s requests for comment.
In short
- Barrasso alleges Schumer helped recruit a second Dan Sullivan.
- The alleged aim was to confuse Alaska voters.
- Peltola denies knowing about the other candidate.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
If the allegations are accurate, recruiting a candidate with the same name as the incumbent could mislead voters and undermine confidence in a close election. Critics can reasonably argue that parties have a duty to compete on ideas and candidates, not exploit confusion on the ballot, and that the episode deserves scrutiny even under ranked-choice voting.
The case against
The claims have been denied or disputed, and the account provided does not establish that Schumer or Peltola’s campaign orchestrated a scheme; Peltola says she knew nothing of the other candidate. A person sharing the incumbent’s name may be entitled to run, and in a ranked-choice election voters can express preferences among all candidates, so accusations of deliberate deception should rest on evidence rather than the name alone.
Explained simply
Alaska uses ranked-choice voting: voters rank candidates in order of preference, and votes can transfer to lower-ranked choices as candidates are eliminated. The system allows several candidates to run in the same Senate race, including people with the same name.
Chuck Schumer is a senior Democratic senator, while Mary Peltola is a former Alaska congresswoman seeking a Senate seat. Dan Sullivan is the state’s Republican incumbent; a second candidate with that name is also on the ballot, alongside Republican Gerald Heikes.
The dispute centres on whether the second Dan Sullivan was recruited to affect how voters respond to the ballot. It has drawn attention to election rules, campaign conduct and the role of national party figures in a closely watched state race.
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