Federal Suit Challenges Alaska Ballot Over Duplicate Names

Alaska voters face a potential legal hurdle before they cast ballots in the upcoming Senate election. The Trump administration filed a federal lawsuit earlier this week seeking to block the certification of results if confusion between two candidates named Dan Sullivan affects the outcome. The suit argues that the similar names could mislead voters in a state that uses ranked-choice voting.

The legal challenge follows a New York Times investigation published on Wednesday. The report details an internal Democratic operation dubbed the ballot composition project. Operatives working with US Senate candidate Mary Peltola sought to recruit spoiler candidates to draw votes away from Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. The strategy relied on Alaska’s unique election system to place multiple candidates on the final ballot.

The effort began in the summer of 2025. A Peltola campaign staffer searched voter records for individuals sharing the incumbent’s name. The search identified Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg. He entered the race in May and advanced through the August primary. He has maintained that he decided to run independently, though he appears on the ballot as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. without a party affiliation.

Jerid Kurtz, an Ohio-based operative, served as a central figure in the recruitment drive. According to former campaign manager Elisa Rios, Kurtz was introduced to senior aides by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Rios stated that Peltola was definitely aware of the operation but was not directly involved. Kurtz traveled to Alaska under the alias Zane to approach potential candidates in bars and private meetings.

One prospective candidate, Matthew Salisbury of Anchorage, identified Kurtz as the person who encouraged him to run. Salisbury said Zane offered financial support through outside spending. Another recruit, Gerald Heikes, a drywall contractor, secured a spot on the November ballot. He told the Times that a man from the Midwest promised outside support but did not name Kurtz.

FEC records cited in the report show that a pro-Peltola super PAC paid approximately $87,000 to Wingspan Strategies, a firm co-owned by Kurtz. The PAC denied paying Kurtz personally for services. Kurtz did not respond to requests for comment. Text messages reviewed by the Times revealed discussions among senior aides and DSCC officials about manipulating the ballot composition.

Anton McParland, Peltola’s former chief of staff, proposed creating a new right-wing party in January. He wrote, Imagine if there was a MAGA party! Andrew Piatt, the DSCC’s director of campaigns, replied, Smart. Let’s see. The idea was abandoned in May. The operation also involved persuading Democrat David Leslie to withdraw after the primary. His departure allowed Heikes to claim the fourth position on the general election ballot.

The Peltola campaign and the DSCC both denied involvement in recruiting candidates. The campaign stated it had no involvement with either Sullivan campaign and did not recruit any candidates. The DSCC similarly denied recruiting Sullivan or other Republican candidates. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled in June that the second Sullivan could remain on the ballot. Election law experts have questioned the federal government’s legal basis for challenging certification over voter confusion.