Iowa Democrat Rob Sand Rebukes Alleged Vote-Siphoning Effort in Alaska Senate Race

Rob Sand, the Democratic nominee for governor in Iowa, has broken with members of his party over an alleged effort to draw votes away from a Republican senator in Alaska. He called the tactic a form of "manipulating the political system."

Sand was asked by Fox News about claims that Democrats have helped boost Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., an unaffiliated candidate for the Alaska Senate whose name closely resembles that of incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The allegation is that the goal is to pull votes from the senator.

"Both parties are doing it and neither party should be doing it," Sand said in an exclusive interview with Fox News on Sunday. "To me, it's manipulating the political system and it's not a good thing to do."

The candidacy has become the focus of a growing legal and political battle in Alaska. The Justice Department has stepped in, arguing that the similarity between the two names could confuse voters. On the ballot, the Republican incumbent is listed as "Dan S. Sullivan," with his party and incumbent status noted, while the unaffiliated challenger appears as "Daniel J. Sullivan Jr."

Republicans contend that the likeness could lead some voters who intend to back the senator to mark the challenger's name instead. They have accused Democratic operatives of helping elevate Daniel J. Sullivan in order to "siphon" votes from the GOP incumbent. Daniel J. Sullivan has denied being a Democratic plant.

Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the Trump administration's lawsuit, which seeks to block certification of Alaska's Senate results if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses to his Democratic opponent, Mary Peltola. The administration says the suit is meant to address the potential for voter confusion.

Democrats have reacted sharply. Peltola called the case "flagrant corruption," and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it "an outrage." In a social media post about the suit, Schumer wrote: "It shows they know they're going to lose. We will fight tooth and nail. And we will win."

Peltola has argued that voters are able to tell the two candidates apart. Her campaign has asked a federal judge to dismiss the Justice Department's case.