Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) suggested Thursday that the state's midterm election certification process could be “stopped or changed,” according to The Hill's report on the governor's remarks. The outlet reported that the possibility is linked to the state's investigation into ballot stacking allegations against Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola.
The Hill reported that NewsNation's Blake Burman asked Dunleavy about the state's probe into Peltola, which the governor announced earlier that day. The available summary does not include the full question or the governor's complete answer.
Axios separately reported that Dunleavy suggested Thursday the state could withhold certification of the U.S. Senate election results if Peltola wins. According to Axios's account of the governor's comments, withholding certification could complicate Peltola's path to the Senate.
Axios also reported that Republicans are investigating allegations that Democrats recruited a candidate with the same name as GOP incumbent Dan Sullivan. The Hill described a state investigation into ballot stacking allegations against Peltola. Neither summary says whether these describe the same inquiry, and neither reports any findings.
The two accounts also differ in framing. The Hill's summary describes the process as possibly changed in connection with the state's investigation, while Axios's summary ties the possibility to Peltola winning, a condition The Hill's summary does not mention. The Hill's headline said certification could be stopped due to the Peltola probe, and Axios's headline said the governor cast doubt on certifying the election if Peltola wins.
Neither summary explains how Alaska's certification process works or gives a timeline for the investigation or for any decision on certification.
Sources: The Hill: Alaska governor: Election certification ‘could be stopped’ due to Peltola probe; Axios: Alaska governor casts doubt on certifying election if Peltola wins.