Key facts
- Senator Dan Sullivan's campaign alleges a rival and Democrats recruited a candidate with the same name.
- The alleged goal is to confuse voters and siphon votes from Sen. Sullivan in the Alaska Senate race.
- The incumbent senator faces 15 competitors, including another Dan Sullivan.
- The Peltola campaign and Alaska Democratic Party deny any involvement.
- The challenger, Dan J. Sullivan, was recently registered as undeclared.
- Alaska's primary advances the top four vote-getters to a ranked-choice general election.
Republican U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan is running for reelection in Alaska and is facing a field of 15 competitors, one of whom shares his name. Senator Sullivan told reporters that he believes the presence of another Republican named Dan Sullivan on the primary ballot is a political trick orchestrated by Democrats and the campaign of his chief rival, former Democratic U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. He threatened legal action to investigate the matter. The senator expressed his belief that the challenger is intentionally trying to confuse his constituents and rig the election for Peltola. A spokesman for the Peltola campaign and the executive director of the Alaska Democratic Party have denied any involvement with either Dan Sullivan's campaign. State and national Republicans are concerned that the dueling Dan Sullivans will sow confusion and potentially benefit Peltola. In Alaska's primary, the top four vote-getters advance to the general election. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has raised concerns about potential voter confusion and the challenger's party affiliation, calling him a 'sham' candidate and suggesting legal action. The challenger, identified as Dan J. Sullivan from Petersburg, Alaska, was reportedly registered as undeclared until recently. The incumbent Senator Sullivan is an ally of President Donald Trump and is seeking his third term in a race being closely watched nationally.