Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola has said accusations of fraud from her Republican opponent, incumbent Senator Dan S Sullivan, and other Republicans may have helped re-engage supporters in Alaska’s closely contested race.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Ms Peltola said the allegations had “to some extent” backfired, arguing that voters were focused on Mr Sullivan’s record rather than the claims against her campaign.
“Alaskans across the state know that Dan Sullivan voted for this war in Iran 14 times,” she said. “You cannot hide from that, no matter how much mudslinging and name calling you do.”
The Trump administration filed a lawsuit last month seeking to prevent the results from being certified if the incumbent senator received fewer votes than Ms Peltola. A federal judge dismissed the case on Sunday.
The legal dispute followed reports of an alleged secret effort by political operatives aligned with Ms Peltola’s campaign to recruit Daniel J Sullivan, with the aim of drawing voters away from the senator. Ms Peltola has denied any involvement in the alleged plan.
Asked whether she expected further legal challenges, Ms Peltola said: “I believe in the rule of law. I believe in justice. I believe in our courts, and I have every faith that things will turn out the way they should.”
In Anchorage, voters said they had found the ballot clear despite the controversy surrounding the two Dan Sullivans, although they differed over whether the dispute itself was justified.
Michael Hanson, a 66-year-old Republican who voted for Senator Sullivan, said he was unhappy that the matter had been taken to court and wanted the decision left to voters. Barbara Konrad, a moderate voter who also backed Mr Sullivan, said Ms Peltola had been “corrupted too quickly” and criticised the volume and tone of political advertising in the Senate race.
