Will the true Dan Sullivan please come forward? Alaska GOP aims to prevent another Dan Sullivan from appearing on the open primary ballot.

Alaska Senate Race Heating Up with Daniel S. Sullivan

Daniel S. Sullivan, a Marine Corps veteran and former Attorney General of Alaska, has been serving in the U.S. Senate since 2015. He is currently campaigning for re-election. The Anchorage-based Republican faces a challenging path, especially with his Democratic opponent, former Rep. Mary Peltola, who seems to be gaining traction in recent polling.

In an interesting twist, the Alaska Department of Elections appears to be trying to address one potential hurdle in Sullivan’s path to success. This concerns a certain Daniel J. Sullivan from Petersburg.

“A preponderance of the evidence does not support your eligibility,” stated officials regarding the latter’s candidacy.

The 69-year-old J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from the Midwest, registered as a Republican earlier this year and submitted his candidacy just before the filing deadline. His campaign was aimed at challenging Senator Dan Sullivan.

J. Sullivan asserted he had “every right to stand up and do this,” labeling himself as a “pragmatic Republican centrist.” However, his candidacy raised eyebrows among established Alaska Republicans.

Controversy Unfolding

Many, including Senator S. Sullivan and members of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, are skeptical of J. Sullivan’s intentions. Senator S. Sullivan described his namesake’s bid as a form of “cheating” orchestrated by the Democratic Party.

“The Democratic Party hired a guy named Dan Sullivan. He’s a liberal progressive, right? We’ve seen it—his donations to far-left organizations,” the senator remarked. Allegedly, J. Sullivan’s purpose in running is to create confusion among voters in Alaska.

Reports indicate that J. Sullivan, who shares a name with the senator, has previously contributed to Peltola’s campaign, which has added fuel to the controversy. Nevertheless, Peltola’s campaign spokesperson denied any connection regarding J. Sullivan’s candidacy.

The NRSC has taken the situation further, filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, alleging that J. Sullivan and consultant Amber Lee orchestrated a coordinated scheme to misrepresent campaign authority. They highlighted similarities in branding between the campaigns and financial ties from J. Sullivan to Peltola.

Blake Murphy, the NRSC General Counsel, suggested that the intent behind these actions was to “deceive and mislead Alaska voters” to undermine Dan Sullivan’s campaign.

The Anchorage Daily News reported that the Alaska Republican Party has also filed complaints against J. Sullivan, questioning the validity of his Republican affiliation at the time of his candidacy.

Eligibility Questions Arise

On June 8, Alaska’s Lieutenant Governor, Nancy Dahlstrom, stated that the allegations against J. Sullivan had credibility, prompting an investigation into his eligibility.

Subsequently, Carol Beecher, the Director of Elections, informed J. Sullivan that evidence did not support his eligibility to serve in the Senate. He was given until Thursday to respond to the party’s complaint before a final decision would be reached.

In response, J. Sullivan voiced his concerns that the actions taken by the state government seemed designed to protect the incumbent senator from competition, asserting he’s a qualified candidate deserving of a fair chance in the elections.