Peltola denies knowing about namesake candidate in Alaska Senate race

Democratic US Senate candidate Mary Peltola said on Thursday that she knew nothing about another candidate on Alaska’s ballot who shares the name of the Republican senator she is trying to unseat. Her statement comes days before Tuesday’s election, as federal and state authorities investigate allegations about how the other candidate entered the race.

“I knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent. That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters,” she told supporters at a rally in Juneau, according to the Juneau Independent.

The incumbent is Senator Dan S. Sullivan. The other candidate is Daniel J. Sullivan Jr, a retired teacher. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that operatives linked to Peltola’s campaign had helped recruit the teacher as part of a wider effort to draw votes away from the senator. The recruitment allegations and their limits have prompted calls for Peltola to be prosecuted, but the report of campaign-linked activity does not settle what she personally knew.

Spokespeople for Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have denied any part in recruiting the teacher. He has denied running at Democrats’ behest and said he had no contact with Peltola’s campaign.

The Justice Department has issued grand jury subpoenas in a criminal inquiry, the Associated Press reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. The BBC reported that no charges had been filed by Friday morning. Alaska’s Republican governor, Mike Dunleavy, has ordered a separate investigation. Recruiting a candidate to draw support from a rival is not, by itself, proof of election fraud or voter confusion.