‘The Five’: Democrat dirty trick rocks Alaska Senate race

[0:01] Hello, everyone. I'm Dana Perino, along with Kayleigh McEnany, Harold Ford Jr., Brian Kilmeade, and Greg Gutfeld. It's 5 o'clock in New York City, and this is The Five. [0:16] Order fraud at the highest level, and the Democrat candidate who was involved in the scheme, Mary Peltola, who treats her staff horribly, by the way, so badly that they think she's abusive, actually. [0:31] She'd be removed from the ballot and prosecuted. [0:34] Will the real Dan Sullivan please stand up? That was President Trump reacting today to the bombshell New York Times report alleging that Mary Peltola's campaign staff helped recruit men named Dan Sullivan, the name of her opponent, to enter the Alaska Senate race, all with the goal of confusing voters and undercutting the incumbent. [0:55] The OG Dan Sullivan, now Alaska's governor, is ordering a probe into the dirty trick, and Mary Peltola, well, she's attacking the New York Times. [1:04] This is just another distraction. It's another diversion. Every day, it's some new, you know, look over here moment. This is all stuff to sell newspapers. This is all stuff to get subscriptions. Nobody at the New York Times cares about affordability in Alaska. [1:24] Before the explosive report, many Democrats and the media seemed sure to either downplay or chalk the whole thing up to a silly coincidence. [1:31] We have this kind of thing happen all of the time. When I ran in California, there was another Katie running in a Democratic district. [1:39] I mean, this is a quirk. [1:40] If Dan Sullivan, Senator Sullivan, loses, it's not going to be because there is another Dan Sullivan on the ballot. [1:48] These two folks are clearly labeled as the nominees of their parties. [1:53] I mean, the whole Dan Sullivan debacle, Ryan, sounds like something from a Northern Exposure episode many years ago. [1:59] And it's clever. It's a clever move, honestly. [2:02] But now that the story is getting harder to dismiss, some Democrats are just shrugging it off and somehow blaming President Trump. [2:09] Donald Trump is looking for a pretext to try to steal this election. It just doesn't have any impact on the race. [2:16] So I think this is much ado about nothing. [2:18] The bottom line is this stuff happens a lot. There are tactics that both campaigns can use. [2:22] This is what the Trump media ecosystem does really well. [2:25] They take these little weaponizable data points and make them into the biggest thing ever and say, [2:29] ah, we would never do anything like this. [2:31] Brian, Mary Peltola said this is all a distraction, but she caused the original distraction. [2:37] It's unbelievable. I thought it was the worst explanation ever. [2:39] By the way, New York Times is out of subscribers, so no one's filling out those little cards when they come in the mail [2:43] and saying I like a subscription to the New York Times. [2:46] So they make up stories with 12 sources that help a Republican candidate. [2:52] It makes absolutely no sense. [2:53] She doesn't even have a spin team to get her out of this. [2:56] Her fingerprints are all over it. [2:57] They say that there's no doubt about it, according to the writer. [3:00] He came out and said that she knew all about it. [3:01] She didn't orchestrate it. [3:02] She might have not initiated it, but she green-lighted it in 2025. [3:06] Can you imagine having a staff with so little faith in you that they say, [3:09] look, if you're going to run for Senate, there's no way you can win on your own. [3:13] I'm going to need another Dan Sullivan. [3:14] I'm going to need all—and by the way, the other guy on this list, listed as a Republican, is really a Democrat. [3:20] Dan Sullivan says flat out, I hate Trump. [3:23] If it helps Mary, I'm in. [3:25] But by the way, I'm not going to campaign at all. [3:27] I'm not even going to pretend to be a candidate or stand for anything. [3:30] And I think, look, I don't think Cory Booker means what he's saying. [3:33] I don't think any of them mean what they're saying, because this is going to be a one- or two-point race. [3:37] How many times can you say you look at the ballot? [3:39] I'm not saying Alaskans are careless. [3:41] I'm saying the average person is careless. [3:42] They look at their ballot. [3:44] So we have one or two percent that fill out the wrong second choice that could screw it up. [3:49] This is not just a normal. [3:50] This is the ranked choice voting thing. [3:52] That's what makes this thing so challenging. [3:54] And to see him go to the fourth spot, Dan S. [3:57] I have no idea his middle name was—started with an S. [4:00] And then it says incumbent. [4:02] I think this is huge. [4:03] And I say look out for that fourth Republican, too, because that is a fake candidate. [4:08] There's probably a scandal to do with that. [4:09] And that is in the Anchorage Daily News. [4:12] Dan Sullivan's got a lot to run on. [4:14] Now, can you imagine a scenario where it's 51 or 50-49, and the last race goes to Mary Peltola, [4:22] and now all of a sudden you have a 51-49 Senate? [4:26] That is not going to go over well in America. [4:28] It's certainly not. [4:28] But, Kayleigh, there's been a lot of back and forth on is it legal, is it not legal? [4:32] Is there any way to adjudicate this in the law? [4:35] I don't think so. [4:36] I think both parties have engaged in ballot situations like this, not exactly like this, [4:42] but ballot dilution, if you will. [4:45] So, you know, you have had the Republican Party at times say, [4:47] no, we'd love to see this candidate stay on here. [4:50] But what The New York Times notes is while this might not be illegal, [4:53] this has certainly gone to lengths that I don't think we have ever seen. [4:57] And it's extraordinary. I'd encourage everyone to read it. [5:00] I can't find a replicative scenario of the Republican Party doing this exact thing, [5:04] saying, go find me a list of all the Dan Sullivans around. [5:09] Give it to us. [5:09] Apparently, that was an instruction who came from top campaign staffers, [5:13] according to The New York Times. [5:14] They give them the list, and this is like the Eminem song, [5:17] like, who's the real Slim Shady? Please stand up. [5:19] That's what Mary Peltola was trying to do here with Dan Sullivan. [5:22] So they find this guy in the Alaska panhandle, [5:24] only reachable by errancy, reportedly, is the Dan Sullivan they found, [5:27] to the point about the quote that you gave. [5:29] They say that when they approach this man in this remote part of Alaska, [5:33] only approachable by errancy, I'd love to know how they got to him, [5:36] he said this, he hated Trump, and if it was going to help Mary, he liked Mary. [5:41] He didn't have any interest in being a politician, but if this could help, he would do it. [5:45] What is crazy to me is that Republicans called this out from the get-go, from the jump. [5:49] They said, this isn't right, this is a Democratic plant, [5:52] they've been calling this out since the beginning of the year. [5:54] Where were the journalists? [5:56] They were writing headlines last week, like the New York magazine, [6:00] DOJ's flimsy Alaska suit, ABC News, Trump told the DOJ to sue. [6:05] Well, look, it appears he should have told the DOJ to look into this. [6:08] And NPR, Blanche defends DOJ lawsuit. [6:11] So instead of doing investigative journalism, they're calling out the DOJ. [6:16] Don't trust the DOJ, but the New York Times and the gray ladies on it, [6:19] and then all of a sudden, the journalists swoop in [6:21] and want to do what they are supposed to do. [6:22] They committed malpractice, it's a tragedy. [6:24] Is it illegal? Likely not. [6:26] Is it absolutely reprehensible? Absolutely. [6:29] Is it the dirtiest thing we have seen in the 2026 campaign cycle? [6:33] Without question, stop talking to me about the Vivek ad. [6:36] Start talking about this. [6:38] The journalists, not the journalists, but like the Democrats [6:41] who kept saying it's just a coincidence, [6:44] those are the ones that are driving me crazy [6:45] because for nine months, I said, oh, it's just a coincidence. [6:48] But now they're saying, well, everybody does it. [6:50] It's not a big deal. [6:51] Harold, what do you think of this? [6:53] Good to be with everybody. [6:54] I never, first of all, if this is voter fraud, [6:59] then what is it? [7:02] Is it voter fraud when candidates on both sides [7:05] lie about another person's position? [7:07] When Democrats used to say in the 90s, 80s and 90s, [7:09] that Republicans, if you vote for them, [7:11] you're going to end Medicaid and end Medicare? [7:13] Or when I was in office, I'm a moderate Democrat. [7:16] My opponent said he is for abortions. [7:18] He's against guns. [7:19] I was against those things. [7:21] I was not for late term. [7:21] But this is what happens in campaigns. [7:23] Kayla, you said it very, very well. [7:25] I think the Vivek ad is worse. [7:26] But look, there's nothing illegal about this. [7:29] But, Brian, your point about President Trump attacks MSNOW, [7:33] CNN, Fox, Axios every single day. [7:37] I love the fact that we're all embracing the New York Times. [7:40] I don't. [7:40] I think one of the things the president's right about a lot [7:42] is New York Times is fake news. [7:44] But he had 12 sources. [7:45] Right. [7:45] But, Brian, when President Trump says this, [7:49] no one around the table says, oh, the New York, [7:50] no one defends the New York Times. [7:51] All of them says, we're now in the final six days of this campaign, [7:54] final five days of the campaign. [7:56] If this is what the Alaskan Senate race [7:59] and the Republicans are putting their faith in, [8:03] I would argue they're in a weak position. [8:05] Now, I think the greatest example of, in this campaign cycle, [8:09] to put aside the ads, it was not illegal. [8:12] When President Trump, it was the greatest political move, [8:14] trying to be political, the greatest political move [8:16] was redrawing political lines to advantage Republicans [8:18] in congressional races all across the country. [8:20] It was brilliant. [8:21] I thought it was unethical, the wrong thing to do. [8:22] I thought it was not an expression of strength. [8:25] But if anything, you were trying to do [8:27] to try to influence the outcome of an election, [8:30] I think unethically, that was it. [8:31] But it was not... [8:31] But Democrats have been doing that for years. [8:33] And you knew who you're voting for. [8:34] So, wait a sec. [8:35] So, it's okay to kill somebody. [8:36] It's okay to commit a crime. [8:38] It's okay to do something [8:38] that everybody's been doing in favor, [8:39] politically, I'm saying. [8:40] But you're acting like Republicans did this exclusively. [8:42] Democrats redistribute. [8:43] I've never heard of this. [8:43] I'm not saying... [8:44] I'm not... [8:45] All I'm saying is, [8:46] if this is what you're talking about [8:48] at the end of the race, [8:48] the reason that guy Dan Sullivan's facing a challenge [8:51] is not because of another Dan Sullivan on the ballot. [8:53] It's because people are worried about prices [8:55] and they're worried about endless wars. [8:56] If we had prices... [8:58] Then they wouldn't have to do this. [8:59] But they didn't... [9:00] But this happens every time. [9:03] All right. [9:03] Can I... [9:04] I know we don't like it, [9:05] but I'm just glad you all are embracing New York Times. [9:07] It's a new... [9:07] I'm going to write this one down. [9:07] No, you know what? [9:08] They can be right. [9:09] But the thing is, [9:10] saying Harold Ford is too liberal [9:12] is not the same as me saying I'm Harold Ford. [9:17] You know, one influence... [9:18] No, wait. [9:18] One influence votes. [9:19] The other is objectively... [9:21] Objectively stealing votes. [9:23] If I vote for Harold Ford [9:26] and it's a different Harold Ford, [9:28] that has stolen a vote from this Harold Ford. [9:31] It's not saying, [9:32] oh, this Harold Ford is just way too liberal. [9:34] This Harold Ford hates... [9:36] You know, wants to take... [9:37] But they're lies. [9:37] They're lies. [9:38] This is a lie, too. [9:40] There are different grades of lies. [9:41] I agree with you. [9:42] All politicians lie. [9:44] But this is actually voter theft. [9:45] Okay? [9:46] Do you want to keep talking... [9:47] Or should I go? [9:48] Go, go. [9:48] All right. [9:49] Because I'm disappointed in you, Harold. [9:52] Disappointed. [9:52] I'm not angry, Harold. [9:54] I'm just disappointed. [9:55] All right. [9:56] So, my favorite defense in this whole thing [9:58] is that you must think your voters are stupid [10:00] if they fall for this. [10:02] That's like telling a guy who runs a bodega [10:04] that it's on you for accepting the counterfeit $20 bill. [10:08] This is a counterfeit vote. [10:10] It should be treated as illegal. [10:11] They, you know, if you fall for this counterfeit, [10:14] you will never know. [10:16] But if you catch it, then they say, [10:18] see how easy that was? [10:21] That is their defense. [10:22] Either way. [10:23] This is actually real voter obstruction. [10:26] How can they believe simultaneously [10:29] that voters can't supply a voter ID, [10:33] but somehow they're canny enough [10:36] to tell the difference between candidates [10:38] with the same name? [10:39] On the one hand, [10:40] they're too incapacitated to have a picture ID, [10:43] but on the other, [10:44] they can see the tiny difference in an initial [10:47] on a ballot. [10:49] That's incongruous. [10:50] Is that the word? [10:51] Congruous. [10:52] Incongruous. [10:52] Thank you. [10:53] This is another step. [10:54] And I think that the bigger issue here [10:56] is we're going from high trust [10:57] to a low trust society. [10:59] Now, ordinary voters have to be hypervigilant. [11:02] We always knew that candidates lied. [11:04] If they lie about your political stance, [11:06] I understand that. [11:07] But I don't expect them to steal your name. [11:10] So now we have to be reasonably attentive. [11:14] No, we have to be more than reasonably attentive. [11:16] It's like walking down a dark street in Bangkok [11:19] at 2 a.m. [11:21] You can't just walk around like this anymore. [11:23] We have shifted the burden onto citizens. [11:27] You have to assume bad faith on your competitors. [11:29] Their trust has been eroded. [11:31] You lose confidence in institutions. [11:34] What does that sound like? [11:35] The border. [11:36] Asylum processing and claims of a secure border? [11:40] No. [11:41] Sex and gender. [11:42] The parents must now scrutinize the school policy [11:44] on locker rooms and sports. [11:46] We have to second guess crime stats, [11:49] public health guidance, [11:50] media and fact-checking, [11:52] education curriculum. [11:53] You have to make sure that the teacher [11:55] isn't a pervert or a drag queen. [11:58] You know, we expect carnival games [12:00] to have deception, [12:01] but not in balance. [12:04] So they admit that they're dirtbags [12:07] by saying, you know, it's on you [12:10] not to trust us. [12:12] You'd be an idiot to think [12:14] we wouldn't try to screw you. [12:16] That is a low-trust society [12:17] where men can be women, [12:19] corrupt leaders can be refugees, [12:21] husbands can be brothers, [12:23] criminals can be victims, [12:25] teachers can be pervs, [12:26] and you can change your identity [12:28] to a dog if it suits you. [12:30] This assumes that the article is true, [12:32] everything we're saying, [12:32] and I'll stipulate that [12:33] because I don't always believe [12:34] the New York Times has written things [12:36] about me that have been [12:36] completely flatly untrue. [12:38] So I'll give you that. [12:39] Tom out. [12:40] Stipulate. [12:41] I think they could be wrong, Brian, [12:42] what they're saying. [12:43] Two, when someone in a campaign [12:45] says that a candidate running for office [12:47] has supported stuff [12:49] and believes in something [12:49] that's completely false [12:50] and they're allowed [12:51] to hijack your integrity [12:52] and wrongly bespurt [12:54] your political reputation, [12:55] in fairness, my brother, [12:56] you're okay with that. [12:57] I disagree with you. [12:58] I think that is... [12:58] Well, I'm not okay with it, [12:59] but there's nothing you can do about it. [13:00] I think that's as bad as this. [13:02] Three, what I think [13:03] the real grievance here is with [13:04] is ranked choice voting. [13:06] I don't like ranked choice voting. [13:07] I agree. [13:07] And they should be done with that. [13:08] We have it here in New York. [13:09] I like an open primary, [13:11] but I do not like ranked choice voting. [13:12] I agree. [13:13] And finally, [13:14] I still believe [13:15] the greatest, cleverest [13:18] political effort in this season [13:19] was not illegal. [13:20] It was unethical. [13:21] The president did it. [13:22] When they redrew congressional lines [13:24] in the middle of the season, [13:25] that was fine. [13:25] Democrats did it for decades. [13:27] But it's also not exactly [13:29] working out for Republicans, is it? [13:31] Exactly. [13:32] My point is that, yeah, you're right. [13:35] Maybe it was unethical, [13:36] but it also didn't work. [13:38] But Dana, his intention was for it to work [13:40] and the Lord works in mysterious ways. [13:42] So maybe this won't work [13:44] and we all won't cry about it. [13:45] There's nothing illegal about it. [13:46] If we're crying five days out [13:48] from an election, [13:49] I promise you, [13:50] if prices were down [13:51] and we were out of wars, [13:52] this would not be an issue. [13:53] I'm not crying. [13:53] You're crying. [13:54] Jonathan Turley says, [13:55] all these guys have to... [13:55] I'm glad you don't have that mug. [13:57] But they do have to lawyer up. [13:58] All those staffers have to lawyer up. [14:00] They're going to be under scrutiny. [14:01] And they should be. [14:01] They made some... [14:02] Also, they should learn the rules [14:03] when talking to the press. [14:04] If you give an on-the-record interview [14:05] to The New York Times, [14:06] they're going to use it. [14:07] Yeah, I mean... [14:07] Like, now who's stupid? [14:09] All right, tonight, [14:10] you won't want to miss Jesse's town hall [14:11] with J.D. Vance at 8 p.m. [14:12] The vice president was asked [14:14] about all the hot topics of the day, [14:16] including the decoy Dan scandal. [14:18] I just stated... [14:19] In Alaska, [14:20] some of these Democrats were caught [14:23] putting fake candidates on the ballot. [14:25] Cheating, I would say. [14:26] Trying to trick the voters. [14:27] Yes. [14:28] Do you think they should be prosecuted? [14:29] I think we should absolutely look into it. [14:31] And I'm not a legal expert, Jesse, [14:34] but I know that if you're trying [14:36] as a candidate for office, [14:38] quite literally to mislead and trick [14:40] and defraud your voters, [14:41] if it's not illegal, it should be. [14:43] Up next, a Haley House divided. [14:46] The fiancé of El-Sayed's primary opponent [14:48] breaks rank.