By SUZANNE DOWNING
May 29, 2026 – A Petersburg man named Dan Sullivan has launched a campaign website for the US Senate, potentially setting up one of the most unusual dynamics of Alaska’s 2026 election cycle.
The website, Sullivan for Senate, promotes a Democratic campaign for US Senate under the name “Dan Sullivan” — the same name as Alaska’s incumbent Republican U.S. senator, Dan Sullivan.
As of Friday, however, no federal candidacy filing for the Petersburg Sullivan appeared in the Federal Election Commission database. Federal law generally requires candidates for federal office to file a Statement of Candidacy after raising or spending more than $5,000 in campaign activity. At this point, he may or may not be in violation of FEC rules.
The timing has raised questions because former congresswoman Mary Peltola, the leading Democratic challenger to Sen. Sullivan, was recently in Petersburg. No evidence has yet shown coordination between Peltola and the Petersburg candidate, but the emergence of another Dan Sullivan in the same race shortly after her visit is certain to draw attention in a state now operating under a top-four primary and ranked-choice voting system.
Under Alaska’s election system, all candidates appear together on the same jungle primary ballot regardless of party affiliation, with the top four advancing to the general election.
Jungle primaries and ranked-choice voting can create opportunities for voter confusion, particularly when candidates share similar or exactly the names. Before Ballot Measure 2 took effect, Republicans and Democrats appeared on separate primary ballots, making such situations less likely to affect intra-party voting.
Another notable wrinkle is the campaign branding itself. The Petersburg candidate’s website uses the name “Sullivan for Senate” — a phrase that longtime Alaska political observers may remember from Sen. Sullivan’s original 2014 campaign. Sen. Sullivan defeated Democrat Mark Begich in that race and has served in the Senate since 2015.
Whether the Petersburg Democrat ultimately files with the FEC and qualifies for the ballot remains to be seen. But if both men named Dan Sullivan appear on the same statewide ballot, election officials and campaigns may face pressure to ensure voters understand which candidate is which. If not, yet more questions will be raised about the security of Alaska’s election system.
12 thoughts on “Name game: Petersburg Democrat named Dan Sullivan launches trick on voters with Senate campaign”
There’s another Mary Peltola who lives in Alaska too. The Republican Party is working right now to draft her as the conservative Democrat candidate. Let’s have some fun, Alaska.
“Confusion” is the Democrat’s stock in trade. Let’s give it back to them in spades. Can’t wait for the debates…..
“………“Confusion” is the Democrat’s stock in trade………”
The confusion is just one aspect of the evil that is truly their stock in trade. This is clearly no coincidence.
Which party does Trump claim to be a member? Who is the absolute worst president of all time? Hegseth and Miller are republicans and as evil as can be.
“………Which party does Trump claim to be a member?………”
He was a Democrat until 2016. Like many other Democrats, he has repented. He’s now a Republican.
Republican. Obama. And I think maybe you don’t like to hear the truth very often. Just sayin’.
Unbelievable, the lengths of evil they will go to. The evil wicked mind of the demoncrats. Most republicans are respectful to a degree. This is not surprising. Hey, look over here while we cheat over there!
Dude. Who is the party of cheating? It’s sure as hell not Democrats.
Ballot harvesting, Illegals Voting, Racist Gerrymandering, Coordinating with Private Entities (Google, Facebook, etc.) to censor opposition, Using Illegals to inflate Census Representation, and more.
Say it three times and it is true? Really?
And all this time Democrats have been complaining about voter disenfranchisement.
I looked at his site. I did not see anywhere where he is running as a Democrat. Voter records for Petersburg do not show a Dan Sullivan registered. They do show a Daniel Sullivan registered as an undeclared. This group makes up about half of Alaska voters. I do not know if that is the same Dan Sullivan. Maybe you should of contacted him for information before you decided on a conspiracy theory. There is about as much journalistic integrity here as your John Williams doxing.