Sullivan campaign, NRSC form ‘recount fund’ for Alaska Senate race

Sen. Dan Sullivan’s (R-Alaska) campaign and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), the campaign arm for Senate Republicans, have organized a “recount fund,” according to a Tuesday filing with the Federal Election Commission, the latest sign that Republicans are prepared to contest the results of the Senate election in Alaska if anyone other than the incumbent wins.

“The NRSC is committed to ensuring every vote is counted fairly and accurately, in each and every state, and we will be ready for all contingencies, including recounts, should they be necessary,” said Joanna Rodriguez, an NRSC spokesperson.

Scrutiny over the Alaska Senate race is heating up even before the results are counted, as Sullivan fights to withstand a challenge from Democratic former Rep. Mary Peltola. The New York Times reported last week a second Dan Sullivan on the ballot was recruited by operatives linked to national Democrats and Peltola’s campaign.

There are several ongoing investigations into that reported scheme, including at the state and congressional levels , although the practice is not illegal according to state law.

The Trump administration had already sought to dispute the results if the presence of the other Dan Sullivan caused the incumbent senator to lose, citing voter confusion. A federal judge on Sunday dismissed a lawsuit the Department of Justice was pursuing to block the results on those grounds.

Sullivan told CNN he would accept the results .