Alaska Candidate Leaves Town Ahead of Senate Election Amid Allegations
Alaska Senate candidate Daniel Sullivan left his hometown days before election, raising questions about his campaign efforts.
2 min read
Days before the November 3 Senate election, independent Alaska Senate candidate Daniel Sullivan left his hometown of Petersburg, according to CBS News. The retired teacher, accused of entering the race to draw votes from Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, was spotted on a flight to Anchorage just two days before the New York Times published an investigation linking his candidacy to a recruitment effort involving Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign.
Investigations Into Alleged Scheme
The report did not establish why Sullivan was traveling or where he went after Anchorage, though a friend noted that Sullivan and his wife frequently travel. The departure comes as state and federal investigators examine allegations that Democrat operatives helped put him on the ballot to confuse voters in the November 3 Senate election.
Sullivan has maintained that he entered the race on his own, while Peltola and national Democrats have denied involvement. In Petersburg, a fishing community of roughly 3,000 people, dozens of residents told CBS they had received no campaign literature or seen signs promoting Sullivan since he announced his bid in the spring. The network’s crew also found no visible campaign activity, including outside his home along the community’s main coastal road.
Local Reactions and Campaign Concerns
Andrew Worhatch, a local fisherman, questioned whether Sullivan was making a serious effort to win. “I don’t think it’s a serious candidacy. I haven’t seen a platform,” he told CBS. Some residents defended Sullivan, citing his work with students, while others expressed frustration. Darla Kowalski, a resident, called the situation “embarrassing” for the small fishing village.
Legal and Federal Investigations
The alleged recruitment effort involved Peltola’s campaign lawyers and senior Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee aides, according to the Times. Former campaign manager Elisa Rios told the newspaper that Peltola knew about the effort, although she did not participate directly. Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) ordered the state Department of Public Safety to examine whether the alleged scheme broke state law and whether criminal charges or civil proceedings were warranted.
Federal prosecutors are conducting a separate criminal investigation into how Sullivan entered the race. The inquiry had been underway for months and gained urgency after the Times published its findings. Investigators were preparing to preserve communications and issue grand jury subpoenas, with the investigation expected to continue beyond Election Day.
Source: Breitbart
