By SUZANNE DOWNING
July 2, 2026 – With Democrats’ devious ballot strategy already riveting the attention Alaska’s US Senate race, Sen. Dan Sullivan’s re-election campaign has launched a major statewide advertising blitz designed to keep the focus on his record ahead of the Aug. 18 primary.
The Sullivan campaign announced Wednesday that it secured a $2.2 million advertising buy running from this week through the primary election. The campaign will blanket the state with advertising across broadcast television, radio, and streaming platforms. That’s about $47,000 a day for this particular ad buy.
The media offensive comes as Sullivan continues to battle the controversy surrounding Daniel J. Sullivan, now known as the notorious Decoy Dan, whose surprise presence on the ballot has sparked concern that Democratic operatives are trying to confuse voters by fielding a candidate with the same name as the incumbent Republican senator.
The Alaska Supreme Court ruled this week that Decoy Dan may remain on the ballot, despite arguments from the Division of Elections that he did not meet the statutory requirements to run as a Republican candidate. The decision immediately elevated the stakes in what was already expected to be one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.
“Senator Sullivan delivers real results for Alaska each and every day — unleashing Alaska’s energy, securing historic Coast Guard investments and standing up for our fishermen — and between now and August 18 we’re making sure that strong record is amplified in every corner of the state,” campaign spokesman Nate Adams said.
The first television advertisement, titled “Honor,” focuses on Sullivan’s three decades of military service as a Marine Corps infantry officer, where he rose to the rank of colonel, before turning to his work in the U.S. Senate on behalf of Alaska’s military installations, veterans and national defense.
In the ad, Sullivan says: “It was an honor to serve our country in uniform. And it’s an honor to fight for Alaska in the U.S. Senate.”
The campaign is also drawing a sharp contrast with Democratic candidate Mary Peltola. Sullivan’s campaign points to Peltola’s votes against defense legislation that included military funding and troop pay raises during her time in Congress. Since leaving office, Peltola joined a Washington, DC, lobbying firm, where public disclosures indicate she received an annual salary of approximately $400,000 but brought little value.
The ad campaign marks the opening salvo in what is expected to be an expensive and fiercely contested race. Democrats recruited Peltola after she served one term in Congress, and then lost to Nick Begich III, and now the “Decoy Dan” candidacy represents an unprecedented effort to siphon votes from the incumbent by exploiting voter confusion.
With ballots already finalized and overseas voting set to begin, Sullivan’s campaign is betting that a sustained statewide media presence will keep the spotlight on the incumbent’s record rather than the controversy surrounding the unusual ballot.
The $2.2 million buy ensures Alaskans will be seeing and hearing plenty from Sullivan between now and the Aug. 18 primary, as one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races enters its final stretch.
