Dan Sullivan Seeks to Block Same-Name Rival From Alaska Ballot as $6.4 Million Democratic Push Builds
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jun 7
Dan Sullivan Seeks to Block Same-Name Rival From Alaska Ballot as $6.4 Million Democratic Push Builds
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jun 7
Summary
Three days before Alaska’s filing deadline, Sen. Dan Sullivan learned that Republican Dan J. Sullivan had entered the race, and he and the NRSC are now pressing state officials to strike the challenger from the ballot.
Sullivan says the candidacy is meant to confuse voters in Alaska’s ranked-choice system, where both Dan Sullivans could reach the general election and split Republican support against Democrat Mary Peltola.
Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, says his bid is legitimate and that he will not drop out, though records show past donations to Democrats including $130 to Peltola and ties to a consultant who has backed Democratic clients.
Peltola’s campaign, the DSCC, Chuck Schumer, Kirsten Gillibrand and Alaska Democrats all deny any role, while Sullivan says he may sue if election officials refuse to remove his rival.
The dispute lands in one of Democrats’ best pickup opportunities: ad spending has already reached about $6.4 million from Democrats versus $3.4 million from Republicans in a race that could help decide Senate control.
How will Alaska's ranked-choice voting system prevent confusion when two candidates on the ballot share a name?
What legal precedent exists for removing a candidate from a ballot due to potential voter confusion over their name?
Alaska’s 2026 Senate Race: How Two Dan Sullivans and Ranked-Choice Voting Could Decide Senate Control
Overview
In late May 2026, Dan J. Sullivan entered the Alaska Senate race as a challenger to incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan, quickly sparking controversy and being seen as a major headache for the incumbent. The Republican Party and Senator Sullivan’s campaign alleged that Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy was a deliberate 'dirty trick' meant to confuse voters and siphon votes away from the incumbent. Viewing this as a calculated maneuver, the National Republican Senatorial Committee responded by launching immediate legal actions, highlighting the seriousness with which the GOP is treating this unexpected and potentially disruptive challenge.