Top House Republican: ‘Big Possibility’ Peltola Won’t Be Seated If She Wins Alaska Race

Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) has said Alaska Senate candidate Mary Peltola might not be seated if she wins the race, coming after reports alleged that her campaign and national Democrats were involved in a scheme to recruit a candidate with the same name as the Republican incumbent senator.

Comer, in an appearance on Fox News on Sunday, was asked questions about the Senate race, which is pitting Democrat Peltola against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, another candidate named Dan J. Sullivan, and Republican Gerald Heikes.

When asked whether Peltola might not be seated in the Senate should she win, Comer said it’s “a big possibility” but noted he has “not spoken to Sen. Thune about that,” referring to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).

“We kind of tend to operate within the confinement of the House with respect to our investigations, but at the end of the day, I think the American people can see loud and clear what was done here,” said Comer, who is the chairman of the House Oversight Committee and has already started an investigation into the reports against Peltola’s campaign.

Peltola, a former House lawmaker, has denied the allegations against her and said they are meant to serve as a distraction from Sen. Sullivan’s record.

While speaking at an event in Juneau last week, Peltola said she “knew nothing about any other candidates on the ballot except for me and the incumbent,” in a bid to “clear the air” about the claims against her campaign.

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“That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters. I know I can beat Dan Sullivan,” she added.

“That’s a fraud to the public,” Trump said, while later saying that the reported allegations are tantamount to a “plot by the Democratic Party” to commit what he said is “voter fraud at the highest level.”

On Sunday, a federal district judge dismissed a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit that sought to block the certification of the Senate race if Sen. Dan Sullivan loses.

U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason said the relief the federal government sought was “infeasible” because many voters have already cast their ballots.

Shortly after the ruling, the DOJ filed a notice that it would appeal.

“Alaskan voters deserve a fair election, not to be misled in an attempt to rig outcomes,” a department spokesperson said in a statement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.