President Donald Trump accused Democrats of attempting to manipulate Alaska's U.S. Senate election by recruiting a candidate named Dan Sullivan to challenge Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, calling for legal and political consequences for Democratic challenger Mary Peltola.

In a Wednesday post on Truth Social, Trump cited a New York Times investigation that described an effort involving aides associated with Peltola's campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) to recruit candidates who could draw votes away from the incumbent senator.

“It has just been determined that the Democrats in Alaska illegally searched for, and recruited, a man named Dan Sullivan to run against our distinguished Republican Senator, Dan Sullivan, in order to defraud, confuse, and obfuscate the Election, thereby taking votes away from the REAL Senator, Dan Sullivan,” Trump wrote.

Truth Social
Credit: Truth Social

President Trump also accused Democrats of making false statements under oath in federal court and argued that those involved should face serious consequences.

“The Democrats' false statements were made under oath in Federal Court. Therefore, they perjured themselves and should be liable for very serious consequences,” Trump wrote.

Trump specifically called for Peltola to face legal and political repercussions, describing the alleged effort as “A FRAUD ON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.” He also urged officials to remove both Peltola and the second Dan Sullivan from the ballot so the incumbent Republican could run without the potential for voter confusion.

According to the New York Times, the recruitment effort began in 2025 and involved Democratic campaign aides, party officials and attorneys. The effort resulted in Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, Alaska, entering the Senate race against incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan.

Former Peltola campaign manager Elisa Rios, who was fired in August and later sought to retract statements she had made to the newspaper, said Peltola knew about the effort but was not directly involved in organizing it. Peltola's campaign and the DSCC have denied involvement in recruiting the second Sullivan.

The controversy has already produced a legal battle over the candidate's eligibility. Alaska election officials initially disqualified Dan J. Sullivan, but a state judge overturned that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court subsequently upheld his eligibility to remain on the ballot.

The Justice Department later filed a federal lawsuit challenging the potential certification of election results affected by confusion between the two candidates. Trump acknowledged directing the department to bring the case, placing the federal government directly in the dispute over the Alaska Senate race.

However, the New York Times investigation did not establish that Peltola personally directed the recruitment effort. Dan J. Sullivan has also denied coordinating with Peltola's campaign.

The allegations have intensified scrutiny of Democratic campaign tactics as the Senate contest approaches Election Day. The central questions now concern the extent of coordination among campaign operatives, whether any statements made in court were knowingly false, and whether the legal challenges will affect how Alaska certifies its election results.