Trump demands Democrat Mary Peltola be prosecuted over same-name election confusion

Donald Trump has called for a Democratic politician to be prosecuted over reports her campaign talked a man with the same name as her opponent to also run in the election.

Dan J Sullivan filed to run in the Senate election in Alaska as a Republican against incumbent Senator Dan S Sullivan, also a Republican.

Now the New York Times has reported that staffers on Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s team were involved in recruiting the second Sullivan into the race.

Peltola has denied the accusations.

"The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign," her campaign said in a statement.

"Like Mary, our campaign is focused on lowering costs and fixing the rigged system in DC."

Trump raged at Peltola in a series of posts on Truth Social.

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"Mary Peltola should suffer the Legal and Political consequences for what she has done, A FRAUD ON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, and Dan Sullivan should be allowed to run without either Mary Peltola or FAKE Dan Sullivan on the Ballot," the president wrote.

"Mary Peltola, should be removed from the Ballot and prosecuted — So should the FAKE Dan Sullivan. Nothing else will do!"

The other Sullivan, a former primary school teacher, said he is running for office for his own reasons and denied he was pushed to run by the Democrats.

The Trump administration has skirted around questions about whether any laws were broken.

"If it's cheating, if it's fraud, is it illegal? The answer is it certainly should be," Attorney-General Todd Blanche said.

It is not a crime to run for office when you have the same name as a sitting politician, nor is it a crime to suggest someone do so.

Alaska has a complicated voting system different from most other states.

Every candidate from every party runs on the same ballot in a primary election.

The top-four vote getters then run in a general election, with Alaskans able to number their preferences in a way similar to Australian ballots.

So while there are two Dan Sullivans on the ballot in the November midterm election, if voters preference either above Peltola, it will go to Sullivan.

The Department of Justice has sued the state of Alaska to stop the state certifying election results, but only if Senator Sullivan does not win.

Trump himself said he demanded the lawsuit.

"I'm the one that said do it," the president said.

"The Democrats put up a guy who never voted before. All of sudden he decides to run for the Senate."

Polling this month shows Peltola has a narrow lead in the election, with the second Sullivan polling in the low single digits.

The state is typically Republican-leaning, but Peltola has established herself as an independent-minded populist with a platform of "Fish, family and freedom".

The Alaska seat could be critical in determining which party controls the Senate after November's midterm elections.

More than 60,000 people in the immense but sparsely populated state have already cast their ballot.

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The New York Times’ allegations today stem largely from interviews with former campaign manager Elisa Rios, who was fired by Peltola in August.

Last week Rios told the Times she retracted her statements and was not willing to be a source. The Times did not comply with her demand.

Election Day is next Tuesday, November 3. 

nine.com.au will be running a live blog covering election results as they come in on Wednesday Australian time.