Alaska Senate Race: Peltola Rejects Ballot-Stacking Claims

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola denied involvement in a ballot-stacking scheme during a campaign rally in Juneau on Thursday night. She stated she knew nothing about other candidates on the ballot besides herself and the Republican incumbent, Dan Sullivan. Peltola told the crowd at the Crystal Saloon that she was not interested in tricking voters and believed she could defeat Sullivan head-on.

The rally occurred the day after The New York Times published an investigation into Democratic efforts to stack the Alaska ballot. The report followed earlier coverage this fall that examined Peltola’s campaign and her treatment of staffers. Peltola criticized the media outlet’s coverage, asking when The New York Times became The National Enquirer. She described the scrutiny as dodging bullets and called the reporting nonsense.

Political leaders in Washington and Juneau moved quickly following the news. President Donald Trump called for Peltola to face criminal charges on Wednesday. He also directed the Justice Department to sue to block the state from certifying election results if Peltola wins by a narrow margin. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation on Wednesday to determine if the alleged recruitment of a second Dan Sullivan violated state law.

Peltola said she remained proud to be in the race despite the attacks and smears. She cited her supporters, both in the room and across the state, as the reason she continues the campaign. The event took place in a packed venue, signaling continued grassroots support for her bid against the incumbent.

Local residents in Juneau offered mixed reactions to the controversy. Sharon Love, a resident standing outside the Crystal Saloon, said she was glad Peltola addressed the allegations directly. Love admitted she only skimmed the Times article and was ready to unsubscribe from the newspaper. She said she believed Peltola’s explanation that she was not involved in the scheme.

Cindy Spanyers, another Juneau resident, viewed the story as a distraction from critical issues. She argued the reporting did not address affordability or Russian involvement with LNG. Spanyers said the controversy drew attention away from the cost of living, human rights, and Alaska’s energy future. These issues compete for voter attention as Election Day approaches on Tuesday.