A Democratic political consultant allegedly worked both sides of a critical Alaska Senate race, serving on the board of a leftist group that spent hundreds of thousands attacking the Republican incumbent while simultaneously getting paid by his challenger’s campaign.
Americans for Public Trust filed a formal complaint with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday, accusing Daniel J. Sullivan, the retired teacher challenging Sen. Dan S. Sullivan (R-AK), of illegal coordination with the 907 Initiative, according to The New York Post. The left-leaning organization has dumped roughly $1.5 million into political ads opposing the sitting senator this election cycle.
The consultant at the heart of the alleged scheme is Amber Lee, a veteran Democratic operative. According to the complaint, Lee worked on the challenger’s campaign while serving as a board member for the 907 Initiative. Federal law explicitly bars individuals from simultaneously assisting a political candidate while holding a leadership role at an organization running ads designed to benefit that candidate.
“You can’t both work for the campaign and work for the outside group that’s running millions of dollars in advertisements that’s benefiting the campaign that you’re working for,” said Caitlin Sutherland, executive director of Americans for Public Trust.
Public disclosures show the challenger’s campaign owed Lee’s consulting firm more than $4,300 for political services. Meanwhile, the 907 Initiative directed approximately $575,000 toward negative ads against the incumbent during the final three months of the primary election cycle.
The timing raises questions. Just before “Decoy Dan” officially declared his candidacy in late May, the 907 Initiative launched a wave of political spots criticizing the Republican senator.
Representatives for the 907 Initiative rejected the allegations. They claim Lee serves as an unpaid volunteer board member and is not an employee. The organization insisted it operated completely independently from the candidate and had no knowledge of Lee’s private political consulting work until it was publicly reported.
The complaint adds another layer of controversy to what critics have called a bad-faith candidacy from the start. The challenger, a 69-year-old former teacher from Petersburg, registered as a Republican just days before entering the race. GOP strategists quickly dubbed him “Decoy Dan,” accusing him of mounting an effort intended to confuse voters and siphon support away from the incumbent.
The race could determine control of the United States Senate.
Critics believe the scheme is designed to benefit former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola. With two Dan Sullivans on the ballot, voter confusion could split the Republican vote and hand Democrats an unlikely victory in the traditionally red state.
State election officials originally attempted to disqualify the retired teacher over allegations of deceptive campaign tactics. State courts ultimately ruled he met the constitutional requirements to run, keeping his name on the ballot despite the controversy surrounding his candidacy.
The FEC complaint now puts federal regulators in position to investigate whether the campaign crossed legal lines in coordinating with outside groups. If the allegations hold up, both the campaign and the 907 Initiative could face serious consequences.
