The Alaska Division of Elections has released the official certified list of write-in candidates -- including the names of about 160 protesters who registered for the U.S. Senate race Thursday evening, just before the 5 p.m. deadline.
The new write-in candidates say their actions are a silent protest against the division, and add that they're throwing their names into the mix to confuse voters and make it more difficult to find write-in candidate Sen. Lisa Murkowski's name.
Several of those who filed before Thursday's deadline say they got the idea from KFQD radio talk show host Dan Fagan, who encouraged listeners and offered prizes to whoever put the most Murkowski-like last name on the list.
Fagan says he was pulled off the air Friday because someone from the Murkowski campaign complained he was electioneering. and that the station is determining if he violated any laws.
The Murkowski campaign says it did not complain to KFQD management about what went over the airwaves.
“We're going to let that folks distraction, but we're going to remain positive and telling our supporters to go fill in the oval and write in the name, and I think that's not going to change anything for us.”
“I think it's amazing that Lisa Murkowski would be so arrogant when it comes to her Senate seat,” Fagan said.
John Tracy, a former broadcaster who is now with Bradley Reid Associates, a firm doing work for the Murkowski campaign, says he is the one who complained.
The Murkowski campaign says it was unaware of Tracy's call.
Contact Christine Kim at ckim@ktuu.com
