Sullivan says he will accept Alaska election results

Asked by Jake Tapper whether he would accept the election results only if he won, Sullivan answered: “No, I’m going to accept the election results,” according to The Guardian.

That does not calm the rest of the race. The Guardian, citing a recent New York Times investigation, reported that aides from Mary Peltola’s campaign recruited another man who shared Sullivan’s name to join the race in an effort to peel away votes from the Republican incumbent. Peltola has denied any knowledge of such a scheme, saying she had “no idea” whether members of her staff were involved.

Sullivan said in the same interview that he was not focused on how Peltola’s campaign might be legally challenged and was instead focused on winning outright. He also said of Peltola: “She’s continually lying to the Alaskan people. And I guarantee you, she’s lying right now.”

The public record, at least in this excerpt, remains split between a reported investigation into campaign aides, Peltola’s denial of knowledge, and Sullivan’s direct accusation against her. It also includes calls from Republicans, including Donald Trump, for Peltola to be disqualified and criminally prosecuted, though the excerpt cites no formal ruling or charge.

Sullivan’s statement settles one narrow question and leaves the larger one where it was: in the middle of a campaign already fighting over whether the ballot itself was manipulated.