US senator claims same-name candidate causes voter confusion in Alaska election

US Sen. Dan Sullivan claimed Tuesday that voters were confused by another candidate with the same name on Alaska's Senate ballot, alleging a Democratic scheme to mislead voters.

Speaking to a Fox News reporter, Sullivan said constituents had contacted him over the mix-up.

"We’ve been hearing from all kinds of people that are confused. I’ve heard from people who think they’ve voted for the wrong guy and have apologized to me. Just like I said, the scheme is working," he said.

The senator said some voters had mistaken him for Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher also on the ballot, whose candidacy has fueled allegations of a Democratic ploy to sow confusion.

His remarks came after President Donald Trump called for Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola to be removed from the ballot and criminally prosecuted, alleging Democrats had orchestrated a plan to mislead voters.

The US Department of Justice has also filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent Alaska from certifying its Senate results under certain circumstances if the incumbent loses.