Peltola Campaign Dismisses DOJ Election Allegations as Nonsense
Alaska Senate race legal battle intensifies as Peltola’s team and DSCC call DOJ claims a distraction.
2 min read
The legal battle over Alaska’s contentious U.S. Senate election has escalated as Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) filed a motion to dismiss the Trump Justice Department’s lawsuit. The motion, filed on October 29, argues that the allegations against Peltola are a distraction and lack legal merit.
DOJ Claims Labeled as Nonsense
Attorneys for Alaskans for Mary and the DSCC, including lawyers from the Elias Law Group, insist that the New York Times’ report on a ‘ballot composition project’ to recruit a namesake spoiler carries ‘no legal significance.’ They describe the allegations as ‘nonsense’ and a ‘distraction’ from the DOJ’s ‘meritless claims.’
Ballot Composition Project Allegations
The New York Times report, based on interviews with about a dozen people involved or informed of the effort, text messages, and documents, described an internal ‘ballot composition project’ in which Peltola campaign staff were directed in summer 2025 to search voter records for Alaskans named Dan Sullivan. A Midwestern operative reportedly traveled the state under a fake name, pitching candidates over beers, including to retired Petersburg teacher Daniel J. Sullivan.
Legal Arguments and Court Filings
The motion argues that the NVRA, which the DOJ cites, regulates only voter registration, not ballot design or candidate qualifications. They also claim that statements of purpose create no enforceable duties and that the DOJ lacks constitutional authority to interfere in state elections absent a clear statute. The campaign further contends that there is no plausible evidence of voter confusion given the ballot’s distinctions, different middle initials, and the designation ‘Incumbent’ next to Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.
Political and Legal Pressure
President Trump has publicly called for Peltola and those involved to be prosecuted, stating they ‘got caught’ and that false statements under oath could constitute perjury. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered a state Department of Public Safety investigation after the NYT report, citing an organized effort to confuse voters. The DOJ has issued a flurry of subpoenas.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
