Alaska Senator Sullivan Says He Will Accept Election Results Whatever the Outcome
US Republican Senator Dan Sullivan told CNN he will accept the results of Alaska's Senate election. His Democratic challenger, Mary Peltola, denies knowing about a scheme involving a candidate who shares his name.
Republican US Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska said in an interview with CNN that he will accept the results of the upcoming Alaska Senate election. Asked by host Jake Tapper whether he would do so only if he won, Sullivan answered that he would accept the outcome regardless. The interview took place on 1 November, ahead of the vote in which he is defending his seat against Democrat Mary Peltola.
Allegations over a namesake candidate
According to an investigation by The New York Times, aides to Peltola's campaign recruited another man with the same name as the senator to enter the race. Following that report, Republicans, including Donald Trump, called for Peltola to be disqualified and criminally prosecuted.
Peltola continues to deny any knowledge of such a scheme. At a campaign event, she told a reporter she had "no idea" whether any of her staff were involved.
Sullivan's stance
During the interview, Sullivan said he was not focused on how Peltola's campaign might be challenged legally, but on winning the race outright. He nonetheless expressed doubt about Peltola's claim of ignorance, saying she was lying to Alaskans, including now.
Claims about Republicans
Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that Republicans also tried to boost Democratic candidates considered unviable in Alaska's primaries. A Republican Super PAC, a political committee that raises and spends money to influence elections, promoted two Senate candidates who did not live in Alaska and described them as "progressives" similar to Bernie Sanders.
