The U.S. Justice Department issued a new round of grand jury subpoenas and records-preservation demands on Thursday as part of investigation of the U.S. Senate race in Alaska.
Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the subpoenas seek testimony or documents related to the candidacy of Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher from Petersburg who shares a name with incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan. Recipients have included the campaigns of both Mary Peltola, the Democratic nominee, and Daniel J. Sullivan, according to a Reuters source who said more than 40 subpoenas and preservation requests had gone out, with additional ones expected the same day.
The investigation has been active for several months. It centers on whether any coordinated activity connected to Peltola’s campaign or the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) violated federal law by seeking to place a second Sullivan on the ballot.
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BREAKING: DOJ has issued 30+ subpoenas in the last 24 hours as part of criminal investigation into how Dan J. Sullivan appeared on the Alaska ballot and what potential coordination there was w/ the Peltola campaign, DOJ sources tell colleague @davidspunt
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) October 29, 2026
President Donald Trump has publicly called for the prosecution of Peltola and her campaign. Separately, the Justice Department has filed a civil lawsuit asking a federal court in Alaska to block certification of results if votes cast for Daniel J. Sullivan appear to have been intended for the incumbent.
The latest subpoenas followed a New York Times report published the previous day. That report, based on interviews with about a dozen people, text messages, and documents, stated that aides and lawyers associated with Peltola’s campaign, along with senior DSCC staff, participated in efforts that began in 2025 to identify and encourage additional candidates who could draw votes from Senator Sullivan.
The effort, which some accounts described as a “ballot composition project,” involved aides connected to the Peltola campaign, lawyers, and senior staff at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, according to The Times. It cited interviews with 12 people, text messages, and documents prepared for a potential lawsuit.
The reporting identified the recruitment of “decoy” Daniel Sullivan, who filed to run in May 2026, changed his registration to Republican shortly beforehand, and advanced from the top-four primary.
Former Peltola campaign manager Elisa Rios told the Times that Peltola was not directly involved in the project but was “definitely aware.” Rios later sought to retract her statements, though the outlet noted that her account aligned with other sources and materials
Democratic operative Jerid Kurtz, described in reporting as involved in ballot-related efforts, was said to have traveled in Alaska under an assumed name and contacted potential candidates, including Sullivan. Kurtz reported that Sullivan indicated willingness to run if it would help Peltola, according to accounts in the Times.
Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC have denied any role in recruiting Daniel J. Sullivan or other candidates.
