Electoral Shenanigans Start In Mid-Terms

[Bray123]

Its 2026 and the thread is about electoral shenanigans in the midterms. The New York Times has a story out today that relates to electoral shenanigans in the midterms. I’m not interested in your efforts to change the subject.

It's OK if you're MAGAT.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

It's OK if you're MAGAT.

Cool. I’ll stick to the thread topic. You stick to stupid questions about unrelated things.

 

[Lazaran]

It's OK if you're MAGAT.

Sharp-eyed MAGAts (BabyBoozer, etc) have been missing the forest for the trees forever…



We. Told. Them. So.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Lol

https://twitter.com/x/status/2115529160403681627

 

[YDB95]

View attachment 2699301

In the summer of 2025, a staffer for Mary Peltola, the Alaska Democrat who was eyeing a run for Senate, received unusual instructions from top campaign aides: Find as many people named Dan Sullivan in Alaska as you can.

The staffer complied, combing through voter records to produce a list of Dan Sullivans from across the state.

This was no random request. Dan S. Sullivan is the name of the state’s Republican senator. And if the Peltola campaign or its allies could track down and persuade another Dan Sullivan to run for Senate, the confusion could cost the senator crucial votes on the state’s unusual, four-person ballot.


The plan worked. This spring, a retired teacher from a tiny fishing village along the Alaska Panhandle, reachable only by air and sea, announced his candidacy for Senate. His name was Dan J. Sullivan.

Even if that's true, we now know she needn't have bothered. She and the next Democrat on the ballot together got a clear majority in the primary.

 

[BoldFinger]

This announcement is beneath us. Though the Attorney General says it is not illegal—it should be.

That said, it isn't the first time either party has engaged in shenanigans using this same tactic. We can count on Alaskans to read the ballot and easily identify the labeled Dan J. Sullivan, Incumbent, tag by the 'real Dan' and choose that person if you so desire.

Personally, I think Alaskans still should choose more wisely this time and send a message to Washington and the White House.

 

[MajorRewrite]

NYT articles trigger you now?

The Times article is based on comments by a disgruntled former Peltola employee who retracted her statements but the Times ran with it anyway.

The Times story about the recruitment of Dan J. Sullivan is based partly on interviews with Peltola’s former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, who was fired in August amid a campaign shake-up. The newspaper said she tried to retract her comments last week.

 

[Bray123]

Even if that's true, we now know she needn't have bothered. She and the next Democrat on the ballot together got a clear majority in the primary.

This is what makes me suspect it's all a false flag by MAGAtards. Dems have nothing to gain by this, which is straight out of the MAGA playbook.

Trump got something right, when he said that his supporters were so dum that they didn't know what 'incumbent' meant.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

The Times article is based on comments by a disgruntled former Peltola employee who retracted her statements but the Times ran with it anyway.

It’s based on more than that.

“This article is based on interviews over the past two months with 12 people who participated in or were told of the plan, or were would-be candidates that the team tried to recruit. The Times also obtained dozens of text messages that provided updates on the progress of the effort. The reporting included the extensive interviews with Ms. Rios, during which she shared details of the operation.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/28/us/politics/alaska-dan-sullivan-conspiracy-peltola.html

 

[ll74]

It’s based on more than that.

“This article is based on interviews over the past two months with 12 people who participated in or were told of the plan, or were would-be candidates that the team tried to recruit. The Times also obtained dozens of text messages that provided updates on the progress of the effort. The reporting included the extensive interviews with Ms. Rios, during which she shared details of the operation.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/28/us/politics/alaska-dan-sullivan-conspiracy-peltola.html

I'll admit, I jumped on this. I don't like it. That being said, I hope the news coming out helps Alaskans make a proper decision. And helps Alaskan state officials make changes to their election law to address. Might just be changed to the ballot design process.

 

[eric_erosfan]

I'll admit, I jumped on this. I don't like it. That being said, I hope the news coming out helps Alaskans make a proper decision. And helps Alaskan state officials make changes to their election law to address. Might just be changed to the ballot design process.

I saw a picture of the ballot in an article I can't find right now. The correct Dan Sullivan was completely obvious as he was listed as a Republican incumbent under his name. The whole dumb thing sounds like a waste of time. But it should be investigated.

Edited to add the picture:

 

[ll74]

I saw a picture of the ballot in an article I can't find right now. The correct Dan Sullivan was completely obvious as he was listed as a Republican incumbent under his name. The whole dumb thing sounds like a waste of time. But it should be investigated.

I don't disagree. I think it's clear.

But as dumb as it sounds, the texts seem like there was a deliberate effort.

I'd suggest that the candidate needs to make clear what her involvement is prior to election day. This will only follow her the rest of her days without it

 

[Pad_Foot]

It’s not the first time this has happened
The last one I remember the GOP ran the “fake” but I don’t remember a state Supreme Court waving it off as ok prior to the election.
The FEDS don’t have standing! Done! Especially now!

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

I don't disagree. I think it's clear.

But as dumb as it sounds, the texts seem like there was a deliberate effort.

I'd suggest that the candidate needs to make clear what her involvement is prior to election day. This will only follow her the rest of her days without it

The difference looks clear to me on the ballot, but where I think it could be confusing to voters is how to mark the ranked choice ballot is you’re supporting the GOP incumbent senator. I believe Republicans are telling voters to mark “the other” Dan Sullivan #2 which would make sense if you want to keep Peltola from winning.

 

[ll74]

The difference looks clear to me on the ballot, but where I think it could be confusing to voters is how to mark the ranked choice ballot is you’re supporting the GOP incumbent senator. I believe Republicans are telling voters to mark “the other” Dan Sullivan #2 which would make sense if you want to keep Peltola from winning.

Marking the incumbent should be the advice for those wanting the incumbent to win

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Marking the incumbent should be the advice for those wanting the incumbent to win

Alaska has ranked choice voting. You need to have a strategy for how you rank your other choices.

 

[ll74]

Alaska has ranked choice voting. You need to have a strategy for how you rank your other choices.

You don't have to rank choice at all.

You can literally just vote for the incumbent and turn it in.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

You don't have to rank choice at all.

You can literally just vote for the incumbent and turn it in.

Sure, but you’re assuming every voter fully understands how RCV works and how to maximize the impact of their vote. The instructions tell you how to mark your second and third choices. A voter who doesn’t understand RCV might not know if or how best to make those choices. There are reasons to mark additional choices, although those reasons vary depending on which candidate you want to win.

 

[ll74]

Sure, but you’re assuming every voter fully understands how RCV works and how to maximize the impact of their vote. The instructions tell you how to mark your second and third choices. A voter who doesn’t understand RCV might not know if or how best to make those choices. There are reasons to mark additional choices, although those reasons vary depending on which candidate you want to win.

They don't need to know how it works.
If you support one candidate, you can vote for one candidate. Job done.

That's all I would advise his supporters to do.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

They don't need to know how it works.
If you support one candidate, you can vote for one candidate. Job done.

That's all I would advise his supporters to do.

What if the candidate you support doesn’t get a majority in the first round? Shouldn’t you vote to give him/her the best chance of winning in the second round?

 

[ll74]

What if the candidate you support doesn’t get a majority in the first round? Shouldn’t you vote to give him/her the best chance of winning in the second round?

Adding another candidate won't change that.

 

[YDB95]

That NYT article also says, by the way, that 1) tactics like this are legal, and 2) the Republicans did essentially the same thing to Peltola two years ago.

 

[Bray123]

There's a reason why MAGATs don't like ranked choice voting.

They can't understand it.

 

[eric_erosfan]

There's a reason why MAGATs don't like ranked choice voting.

They can't understand it.

It is pretty simple. If you only want one candidate to win you just rank them first and you are finished. You don't have to rank anyone else. But if there is a second candidate you would prefer if your first choice doesn't make it through the first round, then you rank them second.

 

[ll74]

Peltola has come out disavowing any knowledge of the scheme. Her campaign has also stated they weren't involved

https://www.newsnationnow.com/polit...s/peltola-denies-dan-sullivan-nyt-report/amp/