01 / The namesakeAlaska

The New York Times reports Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit the second Dan Sullivan, and Trump calls for prosecution.

The Times interviewed 12 people, including Elisa Rios, the campaign manager Peltola fired, and reviewed text messages and documents. It reports that Peltola’s campaign worked with aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, party lawyers and an operative to recruit spoiler candidates, among them Daniel J. Sullivan, who shares the name of Sen. Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican. The campaign and the DSCC deny any involvement.

The Times says the effort, called the “ballot composition project” internally, began in summer 2025, when a staffer was told to search voter rolls for Alaskans named Dan Sullivan. Rios said Peltola was not directly involved but was “definitely aware.” Peltola fired her in August 2026, and Rios later tried to retract her interviews.

Trump said Peltola and Daniel J. Sullivan “should be prosecuted” and that she should not “be allowed to run, because this is ELECTION FRAUD.” The Justice Department dropped its opposition to the campaign joining its suit and says it will seek expedited discovery.

The lawBallot-stacking is generally legal. A federal conspiracy-against-rights charge, under 18 U.S.C. § 241, requires an agreement plus specific intent to interfere with a voting right.

Market snapshotOn Polymarket, a betting market, Peltola shares traded at 70 cents at 10:18 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 28, an implied 70% chance she wins.