By SUZANNE DOWNING
June 23, 2026 – As the legal and political battle over Petersburg candidate Daniel J. Sullivan continues, newly obtained voter records are raising questions about one of the central explanations Sullivan has repeatedly offered for why he registered as a Republican before filing for the US Senate race.
Sullivan, whose candidacy was recently disqualified by the Alaska Division of Elections, has repeatedly told reporters that he chose the Republican Party because of his family’s Republican roots.
In interviews and written statements, Sullivan has consistently described his father and grandfather as Republicans who shaped his political outlook.
According to an Associated Press report, Sullivan said he was motivated in part by his late father, whom he described as a “true, compassionate, conservative Republican.”
In interviews with Alaska’s News Source, Sullivan similarly stated: “My father and grandfather were both Republicans and raised me to believe in compassionate conservatism.”
He repeated the claim in a written response to election investigators, writing: “When I decided to run for office, I chose to do so as a Republican. My father and grandfather were both Republicans and raised me to believe in compassionate conservatism.”
The explanation has become increasingly important because election investigators focused heavily on Sullivan’s abrupt switch to the Republican Party shortly before filing for office under the same name as incumbent US Sen. Dan Sullivan.
But voter records obtained from Chicago election authorities paint a more complicated picture.
A records request to the Chicago Board of Election Commissioners produced records for Michael J. Sullivan Sr., identified as Daniel J. Sullivan’s brother. The records show that over the years Michael Sullivan participated in multiple primary elections using different party ballots.
According to the voting history contained in the records, the father Daniel Sullivan pulled Democratic primary ballots in 2006, 2020, and 2024, Republican primary ballots in 2008 and 2016, and a Green Party ballot in 2010. He also participated as a non-affiliated voter in other election cycles.
The records do not establish Daniel Sullivan Sr.’s overall political ideology, nor do they prove he was not a Republican. Illinois does not require voters to register by party, and voters may choose different party primary ballots in different election years. Some voters do this to try to game the system.
Decoy Dan files appeal to regain place on ballot as his Democrat strategist flees the country
However, the records do appear inconsistent with the simpler narrative repeatedly presented by Daniel Sullivan that his father was a lifelong Republican whose political identity inspired his own decision to register as a Republican.
Last week, the Alaska Division of Elections concluded that a preponderance of evidence did not support Sullivan’s eligibility to remain on the ballot. Election officials cited concerns that his candidacy may have been filed primarily to confuse voters by creating two Dan Sullivans in the same U.S. Senate race.
Meanwhile, attorneys aligned with Democratic legislators have publicly argued that Sullivan should remain on the ballot. That position, however, represents a legal opinion rather than a court ruling.
If litigation proceeds, discovery could become a significant factor. Court proceedings could potentially allow attorneys to seek communications, emails, text messages, phone records, and other evidence related to Sullivan’s candidacy and any contacts he may have had with political operatives, consultants, campaign organizations, or outside groups.
At the center of any such case would likely be a question Alaska election officials have been examining for weeks: Was Daniel J. Sullivan an independent person acting entirely on his own, or was his candidacy part of a broader effort to monkey with the outcome of Alaska’s US Senate race? Depositions may shed light on those questions.
For now, the newly released voting records raise new questions about one of the key explanations Sullivan has repeatedly offered to justify his late conversion from Democrat to Republican. Additionally, it has become apparent that only Democrats are defending his “Republican” candidacy.
10 thoughts on “New records raise questions about Decoy Dan’s rationale for sudden Republican registration”
One has to wonder how come it is only democrats, who are defending this man’s candidacy as a Republican. Unless it benefits them (democrats) and puts Republicans at a disadvantage because of RCV and the splitting of the votes, hence granting Mary a path to victory.
I read one time that Decoy Dan signed his filing papers as Daniel S Sullivan. Is that fact or fiction?
My understanding is that he sent an email to the Division of Elections requesting to be placed on the ballot as “Dan S. Sullivan”, which is Senator Sullivan’s middle initial. When questioned on that, he stated that it was “a typo”, and that he didn’t do it. Somebody else did.
Of course, all that would be questioned in discovery under oath, and the “who?” would certainly be a valid question.
They will not likely pursue this to the point of testifying under oath. That’s how people end up in prison.
It’s hard to believe that Mary Peltola is the puppet master behind Petersburg Dan Sullivan. Mary can hardly even speak for herself, let alone an imposter on the ballot. Two flunky Democrats, one pretending to be a Republican, and the other cheering him on.
Captain Peltola is not the brain powerhouse behind this. Clearly.
It’s her handlers, lawyers, the D party itself or someone like that.
Well written. Mary Peltola is Alaska”s Joe Biden.
Suzanne, Outstanding point right down to subpoena Sunday. The exuberance of the Demorats is off the table. With what little power that the Demorats have they immediately try to start a witch hunt in the State House of Representatives. Sound familiar? The Demorats are the only ones big dealing Decoy Boy’s over night transformation into a Republican, as something that we should all except.
These actions by the Demorats clearly demonstrate the absolute need to abolish Ranked Choice Voting.
“…… The exuberance of the Demorats is off the table. With what little power that the Demorats have they immediately try to start a witch hunt in the State House of Representatives. Sound familiar?………”
It’s possible to backfire. Once a perjury is established, it leads to possible investigations of others, including emails (and emails are both sent and received). They are trudging a dangerous path. Politicians and lawyers lie as a matter of course, but lying under oath is a crime easily fallen into. If the have difficulty controlling their impulses, they would be wise not to go there………………
Since they have already bought the judiciary, there’s no real risk to them
The judiciary knows they have limited constitutional authority over elections.