National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott announced Saturday that federal investigators are examining whether political operatives deliberately placed a second candidate named Dan Sullivan on the Alaska U.S. Senate ballot with the intent to deceive voters.
During an appearance on Fox News’ “Saturday in America,” Scott, a Republican senator from South Carolina, addressed an active Department of Justice investigation into the campaign of Dan J. Sullivan, who is running against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.
“The truth is that the fake Dan, the decoy Dan, his one objective is to confuse voters,” Scott said. “Number two, if there’s a second point, is the collusion that occurred to recruit this candidate. That is a criminal offense.”
Federal prosecutors contacted state election officials late Friday, requesting that all ballots cast for Dan J. Sullivan be preserved and separated while the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have issued more than 30 subpoenas in connection with the case.
The dispute centers on allegations that outside parties coordinated to recruit Dan J. Sullivan, a Petersburg, Alaska resident, to siphon votes away from the incumbent senator in a race that also features Democratic nominee Mary Peltola. The Alaska Supreme Court previously upheld a lower court ruling permitting both candidates named Dan Sullivan to remain on the ballot.
Reporting by The New York Times, cited during the broadcast, described internal discussions among political organizers who sought an alternative candidate to dilute the incumbent’s vote share. Dan J. Sullivan and representatives for the Peltola campaign have denied any improper coordination or unlawful conduct. In prior court filings, Dan J. Sullivan maintained that his candidacy was legitimate and asserted that he had no contact with members of the Peltola campaign.
Scott pointed out that the challenger’s campaign branding closely mirrored that of the incumbent senator, referencing similarities in logos, fonts, and color schemes.
“Every single piece of his campaign information copied the real Dan Sullivan’s logo, the colors, and even the font,” Scott said. “All that with 30 subpoenas means he could be in serious federal trouble.”
Scott further cautioned that individuals questioned by federal investigators face serious consequences for providing dishonest statements, noting that “lying to the prosecutors, that’s a felony.”
Turning to other significant races across the country, Scott dismissed polling data suggesting that incumbent Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham faced a competitive contest in South Carolina.
“We win in South Carolina without any question. Don’t believe the polls,” Scott said, adding that the party remains firmly committed to defending its Senate majority in key battleground states nationwide.
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