Trump leaves open refusing to seat Peltola in Alaska Senate race

President Donald Trump has not ruled out having Senate Republicans refuse to seat Democratic candidate Mary Peltola if she wins the 2026 U.S. Senate race in Alaska, the Washington Examiner reported. Trump claimed the election is rigged following allegations that the Peltola campaign helped recruit a candidate with the same name as her Republican opponent. [1]

The controversy surrounds a retired school teacher named Daniel J. Sullivan who has no political experience but shares the same first and last name as the incumbent senator, according to the Washington Examiner. PBS NewsHour reported that Trump called for the criminal prosecution of Peltola over her campaign's apparent involvement in recruiting the candidate. [1][2]

Republican Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has ordered an investigation into the allegations against the Peltola campaign, AP News and PBS NewsHour both report. As FTMQ News reported earlier, the probe was launched following reports that the campaign helped recruit a spoiler candidate to alter the ballot. [4][5][16]

The election will take place on November 3, 2026, under ranked choice voting, with incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan seeking a third term against Peltola, a former congresswoman. As FTMQ News reported earlier, the Department of Justice is also seeking expedited discovery in a related lawsuit following the candidate recruitment allegations. [13][15][17]