By SUZANNE DOWNING
Oct. 29, 2026 — The controversy over Alaska’s “Decoy Dan” candidacy has reached Congress, with House Oversight Chairman James Comer requesting testimony from two Democratic operatives following allegations that Mary Peltola’s campaign and allies sought to confuse voters by recruiting a challenger with a name nearly identical to Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan’s.
Comer, a Kentucky Republican, is seeking transcribed interviews with former Peltola campaign manager Elisa Rios and Democratic operative Jerid Kurtz, a co-owner of Wingspan Strategies who posed as a man named “Zane” in an effort to recruit candidates.
The requested interviews would occur immediately after the Nov. 3 election: Rios on Nov. 5 and Kurtz on Nov. 6.
Breaking: Dunleavy orders state investigation into ‘Decoy Dan’ election scheme
According to the committee materials, the letters warn that if the two do not participate voluntarily, the committee will evaluate using subpoenas to obtain their testimony. The requests are voluntary interview requests at this stage, rather than subpoenas.
The committee’s announcement follows an Oct. 28 New York Times investigation describing an operation internally called the “ballot composition project.”
Peltola attacks New York Times over ‘Decoy Dan’ investigation, calls it a subscription ploy
The newspaper reported that the effort began in summer 2025, when a Peltola campaign staffer was directed to search Alaska voter records for people named Dan Sullivan. According to the Times, the project involved campaign aides, lawyers and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee staffers, and extended to other potential candidates who might draw support away from the incumbent.
Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC have denied recruiting candidates or involvement with either Sullivan campaign.
The Times identified Kurtz as a central figure in the alleged recruitment effort. It reported that he contacted Dan J. Sullivan, a retired Petersburg teacher, used aliases and traveled in Alaska.
The Petersburg candidate, known to Alaska Story readers as “Decoy Dan,” has maintained that he entered the race independently. He advanced through the August primary and is on the general election ballot alongside the incumbent. He will, no doubt, face subpoena at some point.
Murkowski’s sudden change of heart: After defending Decoy Dan ballot, senator now demands answers from Peltola
Rios told the Times that Peltola did not directly participate in the operation but knew about it. Rios subsequently sought to retract her statements. The newspaper disclosed that request and said her account was consistent with its other reporting.
Comer’s requests put both Rios and Kurtz in a position to answer questions directly before congressional investigators. Here are the committee letters to Rios and Kurtz.
The congressional inquiry adds another investigation to a controversy that has followed Alaska’s Senate race for months.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday directed the Alaska Department of Public Safety to investigate whether the alleged scheme violated Alaska law and whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted.
Breaking: Dunleavy orders state investigation into ‘Decoy Dan’ election scheme
Trump calls on Peltola to drop out of race
The Justice Department has separately pursued litigation concerning possible certification of the Senate results if confusion between the two Sullivan candidates proves decisive.
Earlier this year, Alaska election officials removed the Petersburg candidate from the primary ballot over concerns about voter confusion. The Alaska Supreme Court ordered him restored, finding no state law or constitutional requirement that candidates run in “good faith.”
13 thoughts on “Breaking: House Oversight Committee opens investigation into Peltola ‘Decoy Dan’ allegations”
Decoy Dan may just have to throw liar Mary under the bus just to keep his own a$$ on his favorite barstool and not in prison next to her…that could get ugly.
This story has received the attention of the ACLJ-American Center of Law and Justice.
Mary, Mary she did a very very bad action and Democrat elites are high tailing and running from her
But will? she be convicted ? and jailed?
She probably would after all being Native and after seeing White elite Democrat political leaders are quickly distancing themselves from her. They may protect people like Walker. But people like Peltola, Trueber, Kookesh, fansler, westlake,
Oh, but don’t you know that NOTHING is ever wrong when “The Good People” (TM) do it?
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Nothing is ever off-limits for radical leftists in their never-ending and all-consuming quest for raw, naked power.
Alaska Native community leaders who think AKDemocrats are their friends. They are treated nothing but a ————- for them.
What’s worse is the Alaska Native community leaders lack of identity and wanting to prove themselves as a Someone they let themselves be treated that way.
Sorry. I unloaded Truth again. It’s the truth for Alaska Natives in or heading into politics. But also being an Alaska Native descent while you look your ancestry in the current AkGOP you also have to be smarter and cautious of your actions because the white elites would leave you high and dry too for mistakes or for your own corruption and foolishness.
The AK judiciary and specifically the AK Supreme Court and their ruling needs to be involved in any investigation. How they were allowed to ignore the US Constitution and numerous SCOTUS rulings to play partisan games is a large part of what has gotten us to the point where days before an election the facts that were already out there are only now beginning to be publicized in a meaningful way.
You are precisely correct. The Alaska Supreme Court allowed this injustice to occur by attempting to turn a blind eye. They own this mess as much as anyone.
Just so I know for the next election, how many Peltolas, Sullivans, and Murkowskis are we allowed each time? Is there a limit per office or can everyone file as one? May be confusing when we get to 25 each..
Lock her up!
This may be Senator Sullivans ace in the hole if he loses this election. Incredibly stupid move by Dems if these suspicions prove true.
Incumbent. Isn’t that when my empty bottle of booze is begging for a refill into the same bottle? Or, is it incumbent upon me to keep drinking liquor out of a new bottle so it doesn’t look like I am a complete alcoholic with all of the empty bottles laying around me?
Derm The Mutt,
Building up steam for the next fart and ready to take a big snort.
Like the corrupt judiciary, the tendrils of corruption head in many different directions. Don’t forget the Alaskan mainstream media, which pretended this was a Nothing Burger. Then there’s the other “inside” candidates like JKT and Bill Hill, who must have had a knowing wink or two sent their way. It would be very, very interesting to hear the details about the “voluntary” withdrawal of Pastor Matt Schultz, the Far-Far-Far Left candidate. His withdrawal remarks were thinly veiled, and he was rightfully irked that he was being ordered to withdraw. Even so, he took 10,000 votes. So, Pastor Schultz: just who is it that gives these orders? Inquiring minds have a right to know. Perhaps you now have a new, improved version of what your party’s definition of “democracy” actually looks like, and it ain’t so idealistic.
fyi, Bob: Bill Hill sent a letter to Eric Hafner to convince him to talk with him. Hill left me a voicemail (saved, of course) also wanting to talk with me. Obviously, topic of discussion was to get Eric Hafner to withdraw so Hill would have an open path against Nick Begich. Hafner has not received any financial support from any party. PAC messaging is beyond his control. From what I see on social media, close to $4K has been spent to discredit Hafner. Obviously considered a Hill election problem if that much cash is being dumped in opposition. Hafner has never voiced any negative about Begich. Hafner has answered the many media voter questionnaires in 2024 and 2026 to share his stances. His views are clear & as a registered Democrat, he states he will caucus with Democrats. Hill refuses to commit. TRUMP PARDON for ERIC HAFNER would bring Hafner immediately to Alaska to debate Hill, do press conferences & more, ending lame Dem comments regarding his concerns for Alaska-PARDON ERIC HAFNER, cannabis crusader over the top sentenced by BIDEN appointed Sharia Law knowledge denying NJ Federal Judge-Dan Sullivan one of 16 voting NAY on confirmation. Impeachment anyone?
Her new motto: ” Fishy, Fake Fraudulent “