Trump says Alaska voters need ‘190 IQ’ to understand ballot as DOJ escalates namesake probe

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Friday, October 30, claimed that Alaska voters need a “190 IQ” to understand the state's Senate election ballot, as his administration intensifies its legal and criminal investigations into an alleged effort to confuse voters in the closely contested race.

Speaking to Kansas City radio host Pete Mundo, Trump repeated allegations against Democratic nominee Mary Peltola. Her campaign has denied involvement in recruiting a second candidate named Daniel Sullivan, an alleged move that has drawn federal scrutiny ahead of the election.

Trump criticizes Alaska ballot as DOJ expands investigation

During the radio interview, Trump criticized the way the two candidates appear on Alaska's ballot. The incumbent Republican is listed as “Sullivan, Dan S (Registered Republican) Incumbent,” while the retired teacher appears as “Sullivan, Daniel J Jr,” without a party affiliation.

“You need about a 190 IQ to figure out the ballot,” Trump told Mundo.

“They put a ballot down where they're talking about 'incumbent' Republican, and the other one. Most people don't know in Alaska, and a lot of other states, too, what does incumbent mean? I don't know what incumbent means,” the president said.

Trump also repeated his claims of widespread voter fraud, linking the Alaska controversy to his allegations about the 2020 presidential election.

“I mean, you talk about voter fraud,” Trump continued. “Nobody's ever seen voter fraud like this ... This is as bad, it's the same thing, actually, but it's as bad as what we went through in 2020 and what we always go through. Because, you know, the whole thing with, it's such an important thing. We got rigged. We had a rigged election in 2020.”

However, there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, despite Trump's repeated claims.

Mary Peltola denies allegations of ballot manipulation

The controversy in Alaska follows a New York Times report alleging that people connected to Peltola's campaign and senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee tried to recruit Daniel J Sullivan to enter the Senate race.

The report cited text messages and interviews with people familiar with the alleged recruitment effort. Peltola's campaign has denied any involvement, while Daniel J Sullivan has said he entered the contest independently.

Federal prosecutors have issued grand jury subpoenas seeking to interview donors to Daniel J Sullivan's campaign. US Attorney for the District of Alaska Michael Heyman also confirmed that both civil and criminal investigations were underway.

“There is both a civil investigation and a criminal investigation that are ongoing,” Heyman said.

Peltola has rejected the allegations, saying she had no involvement in recruiting another candidate.

“I am so deeply offended by these accusations about having any involvement with anyone else's candidacy,” she told supporters.

“I'm not out soliciting more competition,” she added. “I do not need any help winning this race except by all of you in this room and the massive amounts of support we have across this state.”