Peltola campaign reportedly recruited a second Dan Sullivan in Alaska Senate race

Summary

According to a New York Times report on Wednesday, Democrat Mary Peltola's campaign for Alaska's Senate seat recruited a candidate named Dan Sullivan, who will appear on the ballot in next week's midterm elections alongside the Republican incumbent, US senator Dan Sullivan. The second Dan Sullivan is a retiree living in south-eastern Alaska with scant political experience. Republicans have condemned his candidacy as a ploy by Democrats to split the incumbent's supporters and cost him re-election. For months, the Peltola campaign had denied any connection to a separate campaign launched by a man with the same name as the Republican. The Times reporting, based on interviews, obtained text messages and legal filings, says the campaign had not only recruited that Mr Sullivan but had also sought out several other Dan Sullivans across the state, as well as others who could draw votes away from Peltola's main opponent.

Timeline

1. The Guardian

   28 Oct 2026, 19:48 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian reports, citing the New York Times, that Mary Peltola's campaign was behind an effort to recruit a challenger with almost the same name as Republican US senator Dan Sullivan, and that Republicans condemned the second candidate as a ploy to split votes.

2. The Guardian

   29 Oct 2026, 01:53 UTCSource ↗

   The Guardian's US live blog reports, based on New York Times reporting, that the Peltola campaign had recruited a Dan Sullivan and sought out several others who could peel votes from Peltola's main opponent, undercutting its earlier denial of any connection to the separate campaign.