Trump claims candidate with same name as Alaska senator is a hoax

President Donald Trump stated that his administration is looking into an independent candidate running for the United States Senate in Alaska who shares the same name as incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. Speaking to Fox News reporter Matt Finn following a campaign rally in Wasilla on Tuesday night, Trump called the second candidate a Democratic hoax aimed at taking voters away from the Republican senator. The New York Post and Fox News both reported on the interview. [1][2]

Trump expressed concerns that the longshot candidate coordinated with a liberal group to sabotage the Republican senator. The New York Post reported that Trump mentioned officials are looking into the situation, though he could not confirm if it involved federal authorities. Fox News added that Trump described the presence of the second candidate as a tactic to confuse voters on the ballot. [1][2]

During the same interview, Trump called on Dave Bronson, a Republican candidate running for governor of Alaska, to step down from the race. Fox News reported that Trump urged Bronson to drop out after losing to Trump's preferred candidate in the Republican primary election. [2]

Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan is seeking a third term in the Senate election against Democratic candidate Mary Peltola under a ranked-choice voting system. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Trump flew to Wasilla to hold a campaign rally for the senator ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for November 3. [12][15]