A new polished turd published today by the New York Times cites 12 different sources referencing e-mails, texts, and documents that show Alaska Democratic senate candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign aides and lawyers worked with the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee to recruit candidates that would peel votes away from the incumbent Republican senator.
The Department of Injustice filed a lawsuit to block certification of the Alaska senate election if the incumbent Dan S. Sullivan does not win, caused by voter confusion between two candidates both named Dan Sullivan. Trump says he ordered the code red lawsuit, which is being challenged by state officials, the Peltola campaign and the DSCC.
Ballot “stacking” is a common practice, especially in Alaska’s unusual nonpartisan, top-four voting system. Both parties have recruited fringe candidates this cycle and in previous years, hoping to siphon off votes.
Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC “denied participating in efforts to recruit spoilers to the ballot in Alaska,” according to the NYT.
Peltola’s former campaign manager Elisa Rios told the NYT that Peltola was not directly involved in the project, but she was “definitely aware,” according to the report. Rios tried to retract comments she made confirming the effort to recruit spoilers last week.
A DSSC spokesperson said, “Republicans have a long history of recruiting and propping up candidates in an attempt to boost their own campaigns – including recruiting a prisoner with a New York address to run against Mary Peltola and spending nearly half a million dollars to secure a spot on the ballot in Alaska for an Arizona resident in the Senate race this cycle.”
Peltola is currently favored to win the Alaska senate election, according to Decision Desk HQ.