Alaska Senate Race Features Two Dan Sullivans After Reported Democratic Recruitment Push

The November 3 ballot for the U.S. Senate seat in Alaska will feature two candidates named Dan Sullivan, a situation that has intensified disputes over campaign strategy in one of the year's most competitive races. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that the campaign of Democrat Mary Peltola actively sought to recruit a challenger with the same name as incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan.

The report cites interviews with Peltola’s former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, along with internal documents and text messages. It states that Peltola’s team and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, or DSCC, searched for individuals in Alaska named Dan Sullivan and encouraged them to file for office. Rios, who was dismissed from her role in August, told the Times that Alaskan voters need to know about the effort. She later attempted to retract the interview.

Senator Sullivan’s campaign rejected the involvement, labeling the move a deliberate attempt to split the Republican vote. Nate Adams, a spokesperson for the senator, stated that Alaskans deserve the truth. He accused Peltola and her staff of denying a scheme they had run for months, arguing the goal was to deceive voters until after the election.

Donald Trump shared the article on Truth Social, calling the development proof of election fraud. He stated he did not think Peltola should remain on the ballot after perpetrating the scheme. Last week, Trump acknowledged ordering the Justice Department to file a lawsuit to block the certification of results if Sullivan loses. At a recent rally, he urged voters to choose the real Dan Sullivan, warning that votes for the challenger could cost the incumbent re-election.

Peltola’s campaign maintained no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. A spokesperson said the Alaskans for Mary team is focused on lowering costs and fixing the federal system in Washington, D.C. The DSCC also stated it is not involved with the challenger, noting that Republicans have a history of recruiting candidates to boost their own campaigns in states including Ohio, North Carolina, and Montana.

State election authorities initially tried to disqualify the challenger, Daniel J. Sullivan, before the August primary. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled he could appear on the ballot. He finished as one of the top four vote-getters in the nonpartisan primary. On the general election ballot, the incumbent will be listed as Sullivan, Dan S. (Registered Republican) Incumbent, while the challenger will appear as Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr.

The Times reported that Democrats began considering a spoiler candidate in the summer of 2025. The DSCC introduced the Peltola campaign to Jerid Kurtz, an Ohio native and political operative who specializes in such efforts. Kurtz unsuccessfully approached another candidate before recruiting the current challenger. Campaign officials also discussed creating a right-wing party to field a candidate, a plan that did not materialize.

After a second Democrat advanced through the primary, Kurtz met with him and convinced him to drop out. Gerald Heikes, a Republican perennial candidate, replaced the Democrat on the ballot. Heikes told the Times he was recruited by a man from the Midwest, though he did not identify the recruiter as the Ohio operative. Heikes has previously run for governor, U.S. Senate, and the House without success.