October 30, 2026
Across the nation, Governors and government officials must swear an oath to uphold the United States Constitution and laws of their state. This is an administrative and neutral duty that should not be influenced in any way by political party.
However, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy (R) recently challenged this concept by telling NewsNation during an interview that he would not commit to certifying an election win for Mary Peltola (Democratic candidate) within the state US Senate race due to an ongoing investigation into her campaign, which he started as a political witch-hunt.
Not only does this break the norm of political threats but shows a complete misunderstanding of the laws in Alaska regarding elections. The state cannot be used in this way to challenge, delay or deny certification of an election simply because of political issues.
The Law Regarding Certification
In Alaska, the Governor and relevant election officials must carry out their duties in a ‘ministerial’ capacity. This means their actions must be carried out without any discretion or personal views.
The law under Alaska Statute AS 15.15.450 states that the review board must look at the election results and the Director of the Division of Elections must certify them. Traditionally the Governor’s role is to announce and seat candidates after the election has been decided.
By stating ‘We’re going to follow the law, and if we conclude that there… were things that should not have happened… that are illegal, we will act on that, and that may in fact impact whether somebody is seated in the U.S. Senate’, he has completely misinterpreted the law.
A Governor has no right to refuse certification. Delaying or denying certification in order to change the outcome of a vote democratically voted for undermines the authority of the courts, legislature and most importantly voters.
Using the State for politics
Governor Dunleavy’s threat comes from an investigation he has ordered into Peltola’s campaign. This follows a report in the New York Times which suggested, but not proved, that people linked to the campaign had recruited a third-party candidate with the same name as the Republican incumbent – Sen. Dan Sullivan. This appears to have been an attempt to cause confusion among voters.
Peltola has denied having any knowledge or involvement with the plot stating, “I knew nothing about any other candidate on the ballot except for me and the incumbent… That is all I have ever known about. I am not interested in tricking voters.“
Even if the claims made in the New York Times are worth looking into, this would be done via the campaign ethics commissions or judicial system in Alaska. It would not involve a Governor, personally deciding to hold the certification hostage.
Using the power of investigation to target a political opponent and then threatening to disenfranchise voters by denying certification of the election if they win is a clear conflict of interest. Public officials are not allowed to use public resources and their position to benefit political parties.
Setting a Dangerous Precedent
Governor Dunleavy’s comments mirror those that have been seen across the country since 2020. Public officials trying to claim the power to overturn or cause issues with elections they don’t like.
If governors have the authority to decide whether or not to certify elections based on their personal preferences regarding the campaigning methods of a candidate or their suspicions of wrongdoing outside the judiciary and electoral process, elections would no longer be determined by the people. Instead, they would be decided by the individuals or political parties that hold the power in those positions.
Once it’s determined, results the votes, they should be certified. By intertwining a campaign issue with an opposing party while fulfilling his duty as Governor to certify the election, he risks violating his oath and the laws of Alaska.
Democracy relies on peaceful power transfers and leaders abiding by the laws. By refusing to commit to certifying a legal election result, Governor Dunleavy is creating a threat to both.
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