President Donald Trump late Wednesday accused Democrats of "CHEATING" and “Election Interference” in the Alaska Senate race, claiming without evidence that the Democrats got Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., whose name resembles that of Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, onto the Alaska ballot to confuse voters.
“It's ridiculous that the Court didn't stop this SCAM,” Trump wrote. “Even 1, 2, or 3% could make the difference. Dan S. Sullivan is leading by a lot, but this is CHEATING in an Election, and the Judge that allowed this to happen should be ashamed of himself.”
He added: “We are looking at powerful legal options to remove the fraudulent Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. from the Ballot, and holding the Democrats accountable for their Election Interference.” The post included a ballot-style graphic with a Democratic donkey next to Sullivan Jr.’s name, and a "TRUMP ENDORSED" seal next to the senator’s.
No lawsuit or complaint has been publicly reported, and Trump did not identify a lawyer or legal theory in his post.
Alaska's elections director had disqualified Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher from Petersburg, saying he filed in bad faith, The Guardian reported. State records showed Sullivan Jr. was not registered as a Republican before he filed.
“I conclude that the preponderance of the evidence is that you chose this new nickname and party affiliation because that name and party affiliation happen to be the name and party affiliation of another candidate in the race,” said Carol Beecher, the state’s division of elections director, of Sullivan Jr.
But Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews reinstated him June 26, ruling that Beecher had applied a "good-faith" test that is not in Alaska law. The Alaska Supreme Court then upheld that ruling.
Still, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has asked the Federal Election Commission to investigate what it called a coordinated scheme to confuse voters. Republicans have pointed to a $4,380.41 debt Sullivan Jr.'s campaign reported owing to a consultant who sits on the board of a liberal group.
Democrat Mary Peltola's campaign and the Alaska Democratic Party deny any involvement.
Trump’s anxiety over the two Sullivans may stem from recent polling. Although Trump wrote that "Dan S. Sullivan is leading by a lot," some October polls show Peltola narrowly ahead.
Between 10:27 and 10:28 p.m., Trump also reposted endorsement or get-out-the-vote items tied to Virginia, Nebraska, Alaska, Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa, Nevada and Texas. He also posted about Apple's up-to-$100 million Pennsylvania titanium purchase and the release of Stephen Hubbard from captivity in Russia.