GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan draws an unusual opponent in Alaska’s primary — and he’s not happy about it

Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan is running for reelection in Alaska and now faces a primary opponent with the same name, Dan Sullivan, a resident of Petersburg. Sullivan, the incumbent, accused Democrats and his chief rival, former Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, of orchestrating the move to confuse voters and rig the election in Peltola’s favor. He threatened legal action to uncover the truth behind the challenger’s presence on the ballot. The challenger, Dan J. Sullivan, describes himself as a former U.S. Forest Service employee turned elementary school teacher who moved to Alaska nearly 50 years ago. His campaign website suggests he supports Alaska-focused policies but does not appear to be registered with the Federal Election Commission. State election officials certified him as a candidate in the race, though efforts to contact him were unsuccessful. State and national Republicans have expressed concern about potential voter confusion, as Alaska’s ranked-choice primary system allows the top four vote-getters to advance to the general election. Blake Murphy, an attorney for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, sent a letter to Alaska election officials warning of possible voter disorientation and questioning the challenger’s party affiliation, calling him a ‘sham’ candidate. The NRSC suggested it may take legal action to ensure a fair electoral process. The Alaska Republican Party chair, Carmela Warfield, noted that the challenger was previously registered as undeclared, a detail that has raised further suspicions. Meanwhile, the Peltola campaign and the Alaska Democratic Party denied any involvement with the challenger’s candidacy. Alaska Division of Elections spokesperson Steve Kirch did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the letter or the challenger’s voter registration history. Sullivan, a Trump ally seeking a third term, and Peltola are the leading candidates in a closely watched race as Democrats aim to regain the Senate majority. The unusual situation has drawn national attention, with Republicans arguing that the second Dan Sullivan’s candidacy could undermine the integrity of the election process.