By SUZANNE DOWNING
June 11, 2026 – The National Republican Senatorial Committee has filed a second complaint with the Federal Election Commission against Petersburg Senate candidate Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., known now as “Decoy Dan,” alleging that he accepted excessive and potentially unlawful in-kind contributions from Anchorage Democratic strategist Amber Lee.
The complaint, filed this week, asks the FEC to investigate and sanction Decoy Dan Sullivan and Lee over campaign services that Sullivan acknowledged receiving but has not yet paid for. The NRSC argues that the arrangement may violate federal campaign finance laws governing contributions to federal candidates.
In related news, Decoy Dan Sullivan sent a letter to Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, challenging her right to ask him for documentation that would demonstrate he was not attempting to trick voters.
Decoy Dan strikes back, says lieutenant governor’s investigation is not legitimate
The latest filing follows an earlier NRSC complaint that accused Decoy Dan and Amber Lee of participating in a scheme designed to confuse Alaska voters by placing a second “Dan Sullivan” on the ballot against incumbent Republican US Sen. Dan Sullivan. That complaint also alleges coordination intended to benefit Democratic challenger Mary Peltola.
According to the newest complaint, Decoy Dan Sullivan admitted in a June 8 interview with a reporter that Lee helped create his campaign logo and other campaign materials, but said he had not yet paid her.
“We’re still working on those details,” the Decoy Sullivan told the reporter regarding compensation for Lee’s services, according to the complaint.
The NRSC contends that Lee’s work went far beyond volunteer activity and included professional campaign consulting services, website development, branding, communications work, and assistance with federal campaign registration.
The complaint notes that metadata embedded in Decoy Dan’s campaign launch press release identified Amber Lee as the document’s author. It also points to Decoy Dan’s admission that Lee helped create campaign materials and references his statement that unnamed individuals were assisting with establishing the campaign. The meta data shows the news release was “version 3,” indicating that the work went through various iterations before being approved.
Federal records show Lee’s consulting firm, Amber Lee Strategies, has received payments from Vote Alaska Before Party PAC, a super PAC that spent heavily supporting former Congresswoman Mary Peltola. The complaint states that Lee’s firm has also worked for Democratic legislative candidates and progressive organizations in Alaska.
Lee is a known Anchorage Democrat operative. In 2018, she was the Democratic candidate for the Alaska House of Representatives in District 28 (covering parts of Anchorage, including Hillside to Girdwood). She advanced unopposed from the primary but lost the general election to incumbent Republican Jennifer Johnston. She established a campaign company to assist Democrat candidates. Her work with Democrats goes back to being an intern with Juneau Democrat Rep. Beth Kerttula in the 1990s, and a legislative aide to Rep. Kim Elton, another Juneau Democrat.
At issue is whether Lee’s services constituted an in-kind contribution exceeding federal limits or, if her company is organized as a corporation for tax purposes, which would make the gift an impermissible corporate contribution altogether.
The NRSC argues that political consulting firms normally require written agreements and payment terms before beginning campaign work and typically bill clients on a regular basis. The complaint cites examples of Lee billing other campaign clients monthly for campaign management services.
Based on public information, the NRSC estimates the value of the services provided to Sullivan’s campaign exceeded $5,000, surpassing the federal contribution limit of $3,500 per election for individuals and certain business entities.
“Mary Peltola and her minions continue to show they don’t think the rules apply to them. The FEC must immediately investigate and sanction Fraud Dan Sullivan and Amber Lee for breaking federal law,” NRSC Regional Press Secretary Nick Puglia said in a statement.
The complaint asks the FEC to determine whether Decoy Dan Sullivan and his campaign committee knowingly accepted excessive or impermissible contributions and whether Amber Lee Strategies made prohibited contributions. The NRSC is requesting that all parties be sanctioned “to the fullest extent of the law” if violations are found.
The filing adds to mounting scrutiny surrounding Decoy Dan Sullivan’s candidacy.
On Monday, Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom announced a formal state investigation into whether Decoy Dan Sullivan’s candidacy was filed in good faith and whether his appearance on the ballot could create voter confusion. Dahlstrom cited what she described as credible allegations that the Petersburg resident’s campaign may be intended to mislead voters because he shares the same name as Alaska’s incumbent U.S. senator.
The NRSC’s complaint also references criticism from prominent Alaska election attorney Scott Kendall, the architect of ranked-choice voting in Alaska, who called the candidacy “pathetic” and said it represented politics at its worst by attempting to confuse voters rather than compete on ideas.
Decoy Dan Sullivan has denied allegations that his campaign is coordinated with Peltola or Democratic political operatives and has said he is lawfully running for office under his legal name.
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