FBI probes Alaska Senate race

FBI agents visited the homes of twelve donors in Petersburg, Alaska, this weekend to investigate a federal Senate race. The agents questioned the contributors about their financial support for Dan J. Sullivan, a local schoolteacher who entered the primary to oppose incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. The town of 3,000 residents now finds itself at the center of a federal criminal probe into campaign finance and ballot stacking.

Sharon Hunter, a resident who donated $1,000 to the teacher’s campaign, said agents knocked on her door Saturday. She described the visit as a waste of taxpayer money, noting that the target has been a long-time community contributor. Other donors told local public radio that the interactions were professional but felt like voter harassment. They stated they knew exactly who they were funding and did not feel deceived.

The total contributions from the twelve questioned donors amount to $7,150. Anna Holmes, who gave $500 with her husband, said agents arrived Friday night to investigate alleged campaign finance violations. The agents asked if the couple intended to give to the senator instead. Holmes replied that she would not have done so if she had known. The specific laws federal officials believe were broken remain unclear, though experts note that decoy candidates are a common, though distasteful, tactic in the state.

Dan J. Sullivan entered the race in June after the Alaska Division of Elections attempted to remove him from the ballot. State courts ruled that no good-faith requirement exists for candidates, allowing the former teacher to stay on the ticket. State officials now list the incumbent as a Republican to distinguish him from the challenger. Sullivan has maintained he ran on his own accord and had zero contact with the campaign of Democrat Mary Peltola, who is challenging the senator for the seat.

The federal investigation expands a monthslong criminal probe into allegations that Democratic operatives recruited the decoy candidate. The Trump administration also filed a federal lawsuit to block the certification of election results, a move a federal judge dismissed on Sunday. The Justice Department quickly appealed that decision. Peltola has denied any role in the strategy, telling supporters in Anchorage that Alaskans are not in the business of tricking each other.

Local residents view the candidate through a personal lens. Ed Wood, a retired fisherman, wrote a $1,000 check to repay a past favor from Sullivan’s family. Charles Flint, a retired boat seller, described the candidate as a liberal thinker who sometimes voted for Republicans. Flint, who supports Peltola, believes the candidate viewed himself as a spoiler rather than a legitimate contender. Friends say the candidate did not expect the federal scrutiny.

Opinions in Petersburg are divided. Amanda Ohmer, a bartender, said she was shocked when the known liberal entered the race as a Republican just days after Peltola visited town. She supports the investigation, calling the tactic sleazy despite its common use. The state has a history of tight races and a high percentage of independent voters, with 60% of 600,000 registered voters identifying as independents.

Dan S. Sullivan continues his reelection campaign, using the controversy to his advantage. He quipped to trick-or-treaters on Saturday night that his costume is the real Dan Sullivan, not the fake guy. The incumbent seeks a third term in a race that could determine Senate control. The federal probe continues as agents gather statements from the remaining contributors in the small fishing community.

The legal battle over the election results remains active on appeal. The dismissal of the initial suit did not end the government's efforts to challenge the process. As the primary approaches, the focus shifts to how the ranked choice voting system will handle the two candidates with the same name. The donors who provided funds are now part of the official record in this federal inquiry.