BREAKING: Democrats Under CRIMINAL PROBE Over Voter Fraud Scheme In Alaska

Federal prosecutors are reportedly investigating how a second "Dan Sullivan" landed on Alaska's Senate ballot, hours after a New York Times report tied Democrats to recruiting him and President Trump called for Mary Peltola to be prosecuted.

The Justice Department is conducting an "aggressive criminal investigation" into how Daniel J. Sullivan, a candidate who shares a name with Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, ended up on Alaska's U.S. Senate ballot, Fox News correspondent David Spunt reported Wednesday, citing two sources familiar with the matter. [1]

According to Spunt's sources, the probe intensified after a bombshell New York Times report earlier in the day. Multiple grand jury subpoenas are expected to go out in the coming hours and days, and investigators are preparing preservation orders to cell phone carriers for text messages and emails that could show how Daniel J. Sullivan got on the ballot. [1]

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Alaska is handling the case, and prosecutors are weighing potential charges tied to depriving Alaska voters of their rights, the sources said. The investigation has reportedly been underway for several months and is expected to continue past Election Day. [1]

No one has been charged.

Trump: Peltola should be "prosecuted criminally"

The report broke shortly after Trump, in video remarks shared online Wednesday, said Democrat Mary Peltola should quit the race. [2]

"I think she should be prosecuted criminally for what she did," Trump said, adding that people who worked with her and swore they knew nothing about it should face charges too. [2]

Trump called the effort "a scheme by the Democrats," saying voters would not be able to tell the two Sullivans apart. "To me, that's voter fraud at the highest level," he said. [2]

What the New York Times reported

The Times obtained text messages in which members of Peltola's campaign discussed recruiting Alaskans named Dan Sullivan to run in the race, with staffers from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) included on some of the messages, according to the Associated Press. [3]

The effort reportedly began in 2025, when Democratic aides were asked to list Alaskans with the name, and it involved Peltola campaign lawyers and DSCC aides, Newsweek reported, summarizing the Times story. [4]

The search landed on Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska. [3] He reportedly said he would run to help Peltola and filed his paperwork in May 2026. [4]

Part of the Times story came from interviews with Elisa Rios, Peltola's former campaign manager, who was fired in August. Rios reportedly tried to take back her comments to the Times last week. [3]

Two Sullivans, one ballot

Alaska's Senate race uses ranked-choice voting, with four candidates in the general election: Sen. Dan Sullivan, Peltola, Gerald Heikes and Daniel J. Sullivan. [4]

On the sample ballot cited in the Justice Department's lawsuit, Daniel J. Sullivan appears first as "Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr." with no party label. The senator appears next as "Sullivan, Dan S." with "Registered Republican" and "Incumbent" labels. [5]

Alaska's Division of Elections had ruled Daniel J. Sullivan ineligible, finding his filing was meant to confuse voters. [3] A state judge overturned that decision in June, ruling the division lacked the authority to remove him, [6] and the Alaska Supreme Court allowed him to stay on the ballot. [5]

The stakes are high. The race could help decide control of the Senate, [3] and Peltola leads by 1.2 points in the RealClearPolitics polling average. [4] Election Day is less than a week away. [4]

The DOJ's separate lawsuit

The criminal probe follows a civil lawsuit the Justice Department filed against Alaska on Oct. 23. It asks the court to hold off certifying the result if Sen. Sullivan loses and votes for the other Sullivan could have changed the outcome. [5]

The suit argues Daniel J. Sullivan's candidacy violates the National Voter Registration Act by using the senator's name to mislead voters. [5] Legal experts have questioned that approach. The Peltola campaign and the DSCC argue the law covers voter registration, not who can appear on a ballot, and Alaska has moved to dismiss the case. [6]

Before Wednesday, Trump had called Daniel J. Sullivan "fraudulent" [5] and "the fake," [4] labeled the alleged scheme "ELECTION FRAUD" and said Peltola should not be allowed to run. [3]

Democrats deny it

Peltola's campaign told the Times it had no involvement with either Sullivan campaign and did not recruit any candidates. [4] The DSCC said it is not involved with Daniel J. Sullivan. [3]

Daniel J. Sullivan has long denied running at Democrats' request and says he had no contact with Peltola's campaign. [3]

Sen. Sullivan's campaign accused Peltola, her senior advisers, the DSCC and Alaska Democratic operatives of colluding to deceive voters. [3]

Notre Dame law professor Derek Muller told the AP the alleged recruitment was a dirty campaign trick, but said the outcome now rests with voters rather than the courts. [3]

Sources

Bill Melugin on X, reporting Fox News' David Spunt (Oct. 28, 2026): https://x.com/BillMelugin_/status/2115556274494403019
Nick Sortor on X, video of President Trump's remarks (Oct. 28, 2026): https://x.com/nicksortor/status/2115559288462868538
Scripps News / Associated Press, "Peltola campaign linked to effort to recruit second Dan Sullivan": https://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/america-votes/report-peltola-campaign-linked-to-effort-to-recruit-second-dan-sullivan-in-alasaka-senate-race
Newsweek, "Alaska's two Dan Sullivans controversy just got more complicated": https://www.newsweek.com/alaskas-two-dan-sullivans-controversy-just-got-more-complicated-12631913
CBS News, "Trump admin sues to block Alaska Senate certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses": https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-admin-sues-to-block-alaska-senate-certification-if-sen-dan-sullivan-loses/
Fox News, "Peltola campaign's alleged Dan Sullivan spoiler plot takes new turn as DOJ faces major legal hurdle": https://www.foxnews.com/politics/peltola-campaigns-alleged-dan-sullivan-spoiler-plot-takes-new-turn-doj-faces-major-legal-hurdle