{
  "id": 17293128,
  "title": "In Alaska race, Trump targets a long, sometimes sordid political tradition of ‘spoiler’ candidates",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/in-alaska-race-trump-targets-a-long-sometimes-sordid-political",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-30T21:39:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/10/30/in-alaska-race-trump-targets-a-long-sometimes-sordid-political-tradition-of-spoiler-candidates"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Donald Trump's administration has targeted a decades-old political tactic - the use of \"spoiler\" candidates - in the Alaska Senate race. The practice involves recruiting a candidate with the same name as the incumbent to siphon off votes from the rival party. In Alaska, Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is facing three other challengers, including a retired schoolteacher named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. The Trump administration has sued to prevent certification of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola's victory until it can be determined if voters were confused by the second Sullivan's presence on the ballot. Critics argue that Trump is using the Justice Department to target political adversaries, a practice not seen in modern American elections.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CNBC World",
        "title": "DOJ escalates Alaska Senate lawsuit over dueling Sullivan candidacies",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/doj-escalates-alaska-senate-lawsuit-over-dueling-sullivan-candidacies",
        "published": "2026-10-30T04:29:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "DOJ issues subpoenas in Alaska Senate race: Reports",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/doj-issues-subpoenas-in-alaska-senate-race-reports",
        "published": "2026-10-30T13:23:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Alaska Senate candidate denies knowing about alleged plot to put two Dan Sullivans on ballot",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/alaska-senate-candidate-denies-knowing-about-alleged-plot-to-put-two",
        "published": "2026-10-30T13:46:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "South Carolina Senate race now leans Republican, CBS News data desk says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/south-carolina-senate-race-now-leans-republican-cbs-news-data-desk",
        "published": "2026-10-30T21:34:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CityNews",
        "title": "In Alaska race, Trump targets a long, sometimes sordid political tradition of ‘spoiler’ candidates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/in-alaska-race-trump-targets-a-long-sometimes-sordid-political-17306634",
        "published": "2026-10-30T21:39:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Top federal prosecutor in Alaska says criminal probe underway over would-be spoiler Senate candidate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/top-federal-prosecutor-in-alaska-says-criminal-probe-underway-over-17297191",
        "published": "2026-10-30T22:12:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "US govt ramps up probe in Alaska over spoiler Senate candidate claim",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/us-govt-ramps-up-probe-in-alaska-over-spoiler-senate-candidate-claim",
        "published": "2026-10-30T22:30:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}