Democrats create plan to confuse voters in Alaska

The Democratic Party campaign has been working to recruit candidates with the same name as a Republican senator, with the aim of confusing voters in Alaska, according to an investigation published by The New York Times on Wednesday. The news angered Estados Unidos president Donald Trump, who reacted on social media accusing the Democrats of trying to cheat the election.

The bill was reportedly led by members of the team of Democrat Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman who is running for the Senate for Alaska. The strategy included finding people with the same name as Senator Dan Sullivan, who is vying for re-election, and convincing them to enter the race.

Strategy to fragment Republican votes

In mid-2025, a member of Peltola’s team received instructions from campaign aides to find as many people as possible named Dan Sullivan in Alaska. The intention was clear: to put a second Dan Sullivan on the ballot to split the votes of the conservative electorate and weaken the Republican senator.

The strategy would have advanced in the following months, with trips to remote communities in the state and the performance of a political operator who, according to the report, used a false name to address possible candidates in bars and breweries. The New York Times claims to have reached the conclusions from interviews, text messages and documents prepared for a possible legal action against the Democratic campaign.

Lawyers and Democrats involved

Lawyers from Peltola’s campaign and members of the DSCC summit also participated in conversations about the initiative. Those involved have even considered creating a new political party to attract conservative voters, according to the New York Times. The report states that the group also tried to lure other candidates into the dispute, with the intention of fragmenting support for the Republican senator.

This year, a retired teacher who lives in a small fishing community in Alaska and is named Dan J. Sullivan announced his candidacy for the Senate. The candidate, who has no ties to the senator, entered the dispute and now appears on the ballot next to Republican Dan S. - Sullivan.

Alaska’s electoral system leads to confusion

In Alaska's electoral system, the four most voted candidates in the primary advance to the general election. The two candidates named Dan Sullivan are vying for the same spot in the vote scheduled for November 3. In the primary held in August, Mary Peltola finished first, with 49.5% of the vote. Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan came in second with 41.4%. Dan J. Sullivan received 2.5% of the vote, equivalent to 4,107 votes.

The presence of two candidates with the same name can cause confusion among voters, especially those less familiar with local politics. Experts point out that the tactic, while not illegal in itself, raises ethical questions about the integrity of the electoral process.

Trump reacts and demands punishment

After the publication of the report, President Donald Trump reacted on social media and accused the Democrats of trying to defraud the election. Trump said the recruitment of a second Dan Sullivan would have been illegal and would seek to confuse voters to take votes from the Republican senator.

He also accused members of Peltola’s campaign of lying under oath in a federal court and called on the Democrat to face legal and political consequences. In the publication, the president argued that Dan S. Sullivan contests the election without the presence of Mary Peltola or another candidate named Dan Sullivan on the ballot.

Peltola's campaign has yet to officially rule on the charges. Senator Dan S. Sullivan, for his part, called the strategy "a desperate attempt to manipulate the outcome" and vowed to fight to ensure the smoothness of the lawsuit.

Impact of the Senate Dispute

The controversy may influence the outcome of the election in Alaska, a historically republican state but one that has shown independent tendencies in recent years. The Senate dispute is considered crucial to the balance of power in Washington, and any confusion on the ballot could alter the final outcome.

Political analysts note that the tactic of recruiting candidates with similar names is not new, but it is rarely documented in such detail. The New York Times report, based on documents and messages, can lead to formal investigations and even legal action.

Meanwhile, Alaskan voters are preparing to go to the polls on November 3, in an election that promises to be one of the most watched in the country. The case is expected to generate debates about the need for reforms in the electoral system to avoid similar confusions in the future.

The Boca no Trombone Portal will continue to follow the unfolding of this story and will bring updates as new information is released.

Read Also

Collision between high-speed trains leaves at least 64 dead in Spain

Collision of trains in Spain leaves 30 dead

Brutal collision between trains in Spain leaves 30 dead and several injured

Font

g1.globo.com