Alaska: allegations against Peltola team as Murkowski backs a Democrat
According to the New York Times, aides to Democratic Senate candidate Peltola recruited spoiler candidates. Trump calls it fraud. Meanwhile, Republican Murkowski is backing a Democrat for governor.
Archive image · Photo: United States Senate Photo Office / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain (cropped and resized)
Days before the congressional elections, Alaska is making headlines. Citing the New York Times, Reuters reported that aides to Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola worked with campaign lawyers and Senate Democrats' campaign arm to recruit two candidates onto the ballot who could draw votes away from Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. Peltola's representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. President Donald Trump said on social media that Peltola should be held accountable for 'A FRAUD ON THE AMERICAN PUBLIC'. The seat is one Democrats would need to flip to win a Senate majority.
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski is also drawing attention. According to Fox News, she endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins for governor, along with his nonpartisan running mate Zac Johnson. In the race, decided by ranked-choice voting, Trump backs Republican Bernadette Wilson. Murkowski has long been seen as an internal critic of Trump within her party. 'Our future is too important to be hamstrung by partisan divisions,' Murkowski said.