Top election schemes roiling key midterm races as both parties accuse rivals of trickery

Republicans and Democrats are deploying increasingly aggressive tactics to shape the 2026 midterms — including efforts to influence rival primaries, obscure political spending and exploit election deadlines.

Both parties are accusing one another of using cynical tactics to influence voters and shape the field ahead of Election Day, even as operatives aligned with each of them employ similar strategies.

Those maneuvers have included routing millions of dollars through deceptively named political committees to influence rival primaries and using filing deadlines in ways that gave favored successors a clearer path to the ballot Many of these schemes are being carried out in key races, meaning that control of Congress may come down to what many view as cheap tricks — a prospect that could serve to further erode public trust in government.

Two separate individuals named Dan Sullivan are running for Senate in Alaska, and a third just endorsed one over the other.

ALASKA SENATE RACE’S ABSURD NAME PROBLEM GETS EVEN HARDER TO UNTANGLE Republicans have argued that the confusing state of affairs in Alaska is the product of a Democratic ploy to disorient voters.

Incumbent GOP Sen.

Dan S.

Sullivan is facing a challenge from teacher Dan J.

Sullivan , whom Republicans have accused of running as a Republican solely to confuse voters to the benefit of Democrats.

Alaska’s electoral system allows the top-four vote-getters in the state’s nonpartisan primary to advance to the ranked-choice general election.

Fox News Power Rankings rates the Alaska Senate race as a toss-up, meaning neither party currently has a clear advantage.

If enough voters confuse Dan S.

Sullivan with Dan J.

Sullivan, it could be enough to give Democratic nominee Mary Peltola an edge.