By SUZANNE DOWNING
June 2, 2026 – There are going to be two Dan Sullivans on Alaska’s Senate ballot.
One earned his name. The other is trying to use it to trick voters.
One has honor. The other has dishonored himself. He’ll forever be known as the Petersburg Poser, Decoy Dan.
US Sen. Dan Sullivan has spent a lifetime building a record. He served honorably in the United States Marine Corps and Marine Reserve, retiring as a colonel. He served Alaska as attorney general and commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources. He has represented Alaska in the US Senate for more than a decade. Agree with him or disagree with him, voters know who he is. He stands before the public under his own record, his own accomplishments, his own votes, and his own reputation.
The other Dan Sullivan is from Petersburg. Until recently, he was known as a supporter of Democrat Mary Peltola, who is running against Sen. Sullivan this year. Now the Petersburg Poser running for the US Senate with the same name as Alaska’s incumbent senator and has even changed his voter registration to Republican, making the potential for voter confusion even greater.
You can call him the Scam Dan. Fake Dan. Deceitful Dan.
But what you cannot call this is … normal or honorable.
The defenders of this stunt will say it is legal. Maybe so. But there is a difference between legality and honor. There is a difference between running against a man and trying to run as his shadow.
The more interesting questions are these: Why would political operatives like Amber Lee Strategies think this is a good idea? Why would anyone imagine that confusing voters is a legitimate campaign tactic? Why would anyone look at a candidate whose chief political asset is having the same name as someone else and think, “Yes, this is how democracy is supposed to work”?
The answer lies in what has happened to modern leftist politics.
For years, Americans have been told by the Democrats that every election is an existential battle, that democracy hangs in the balance and will be destroyed if Republicans win. Their language is always apocalyptic. Democracy is ending. Freedom is ending. America is ending. This is the last election. The next election is the last election. Every election is the last election.
Just recently Rep. Hakeem Jeffries gave the orders: Warfare, everywhere, all the time.
Extremism? He just ordered his team to break the spirits of the 77 million conservative American voters, again using language that borderlines on violence.
Eventually people begin to believe they are fighting an existential threat. And once they believe that, anything — even assassination — becomes permissible.
If you genuinely believe democracy dies unless your side wins, then ordinary political rules start looking like luxuries and the end justifies the means. Lying is just a strategic tool; if the cause is important enough, why not bend the truth a little? Why not confuse a few voters, or do whatever it takes.
That is where this kind of politics leads: The objective becomes victory at any cost. And that is exactly what makes the Petersburg Poser Dan Sullivan so revealing. His candidacy is not really about issues or about public service. It is about Mary Peltola winning through purposeful confusion. It is about exploiting the fact that many (dare we say most) voters only casually follow politics and may recognize a familiar name on a ballot.
The party that constantly lectures Americans about protecting democracy is now associated with a candidate whose greatest apparent political advantage is that voters might mistake him for somebody else, split the vote, and allow Peltola to win.
What is perhaps most revealing is not what Decoy Dan has done, but what Alaska Democrats have not done. There has been no outcry from party leaders or statements condemning a tactic that appears designed to confuse voters. The Alaska Democrats have been crickets.
If a Republican operative had recruited a same-name candidate to muddy the waters for a Democratic incumbent, Democrats would be holding press conferences, issuing statements, and demanding investigations. Instead, Alaska’s Democratic establishment has responded with a collective shrug. Their silence speaks volumes. It suggests that when the tactic benefits their side, concerns about protecting democracy suddenly become negotiable.
That should bother everyone, regardless of party, because this is bigger than one race. If they do it this time, they’ll do it again. Every successful deception breeds the next one.
The architects of these schemes always imagine they are serving some higher purpose. They tell themselves they are the good guys. They tell themselves the threat is so great that normal standards no longer apply. They convince themselves that deception is justified because the cause is righteous.
History is filled with fascists who believed exactly that.
And so, here we are: On one side stands a man whose record is well known, whose service is documented, and whose reputation was earned over decades. His name is Dan Sullivan. Senator. Retired Marine.
On the other stands a candidate whose campaign is a dirty trick.
Alaskans have always had a healthy skepticism toward political games. They know the difference between a statesman and a stunt.
This August, they will have an opportunity to prove it.
Suzanne Downing is founder and editor of The Alaska Story and is a longtime Alaskan.
28 thoughts on “Suzanne Downing: The Petersburg Poser and the Democrat Party politics of the ‘existential threat’”
The photos don’t lie. US Senator Dan Sullivan is by far the better looking. Physically fit, distinguished, happy, smiling and confident.
The phony Dan Sullivan from Petersburg,
looks like an old weathered alcoholic. Deep wrinkles, unhappy, and a bum.
Get their middle initials and start campaigning.
The handsome Dan Sullivan is the “incumbent” which will appear on the ballot.
Do a very deep dive into the Petersburg Phoney. Marriages. Kids. Grandkids. Affairs. Sexual preferences. Past criminal behavior. Civil lawsuits. Bankruptcies. Debts. Neighbors. Businesses. Employment history. Something will be found. It always is. Start immediately!
What do you care? How about freedom and liberty and privacy? Don’t like him? Aren’t going to vote for him? Fine. Don’t be a hypocrite.
Evan ……another nonsensical post. Go back to grade school. Then call your mommy and ask her about your genetic IQ lineage. Might be embarrassing.
RonD, add in look for the money trail between Dirty Dan and Peltola’s dark money donors. He is not agreeing to do this out of the goodness of his heart.
The AKDemocrats have increased their aggression because just like a basketball 🏀 team who is dominated the game, they are naturally pushing for Total control and domination leaving no room for the opponent to catch up and win. As the Dominating team. They wouldn’t be doing their job if they weren’t .
Unlike the AKGOP. AKDemocrats know they are just a year away if they secure the AKGovernor office and maintain control over both AKState houses 2027.
Republican members across the state should recognize their Democrat colleagues or other political community leaders they talk to, have dinner or coffee with, Democrats are not (and Never! Was) a Republicans friend. The Democrat and Republican parties are two completely separate forms or Ideological ideas of Government.
The sooner Republican members and their community leaders learn it then the sooner they’ll stop acting like moderates, or bipartisan, or “Rhino” as some call the Republicans crossing the aisle.
Republican members especially your Young Republicans could likely learn values of Teamwork, leadership, Respect, humility, and sportsmanship to their team mates or other Republicans if the men got together weekly or daily to play Basketball that makes your guys compete, encourage, and help one another out be a better baller for the sake of a winning Team. 🏀
Those values are what the New Republicans need developed. They can’t learn it unless they put them into practice.
I wouldn’t be too quick to condemn and judge AKDemocrats aggression and aggressive tactics. Because if the positions were reversed. You can Bet every Dollar the AkGOP would be the dominating aggressor to cement total control over the state.
Over the years, your chairs (including your current one) and leaders have not only grown government dependent but also been told the way to be is be more bipartisan be more go along to get along that AKGOP current and entrenched leadership have no fighting skills. How can they fight when they don’t even know what they are fighting for!? They don’t even know why is a Republican form government different than a Democrat one?
As for this one “ Alaskans have always had a healthy skepticism toward political games. They know the difference between a statesman and a stunt.”
Alaskans today are not 1970-2005 Alaskans.
Many Alaskans are lacking Morals because their childhoods and adult years were void of learning the bible and growing up knowing the Word of God either by instruction from families, neighbors, teachers or influenced by those living out the Word of God. So many Alaskans today under 45. Can you believe this. Believe it! So many Alaskans have never heard of Jesus beyond hearing his precious name Jesus Christ used as a curse word.
Petersburg Dan Sullivan is a complex study in psychiatric disorders. I’ll make a detailed examination in a future post. But on cursory review I can say this:
An old man (he appears to be at least 70 or more) who allows his reputation to be tarnished in support of a political prank, has a very weak level of self confidence. It appears that he is acquiescent to being bullied and is not comfortable with his manhood. This can be compared to a man who is not certain of his own sexuality, an oddity for an elderly individual. He also exhibits another odd trait, that being a person who cares not to protect and defend his own identity as a man, or as a protectorate of his family. By allowing himself to be ridiculed without any expectations for a personal gain, he has abandoned his patriarchal duty to protect his family from ridicule and embarrassment. This is unusual. I will conduct a case study on this man and identify his behavior and identify it through a psychiatric and personality disorder review. Publication will follow in a psychiatric journal. This is very unusual behavior for a much older man and will attract academic review and define new areas of psychological disorder. From a licensed psychiatrist’s perspective, I’m glad he’s running.
Can’t wait to read your full evaluation in print, Dr. I agree, that an elderly man who freely and voluntarily lends his name for ridicule and humiliation is a reckless fool. Something is wrong with his thinking. His family and personal reputation are going to be scourged nonstop. What a brainless nut.
I also look forward to reading more of your analysis. I’m spellbound by the psychiatric issues of today’s society, and this desperate prank is yet another illustration of how much trouble this society is in.
The Petersburg Dan Sullivan is a case study about shrinking minds and foolhardy old Baby Boomer men who throw their reputations away forever. Too many drugs? Too much alcohol? Or just mentally disturbed and willing to be abused? Can’t wait for Dr. Dan’s analysis. This old man will be the new poster person for the mentally insane.
My guess is this Dan Sullivan feels like he is a martyr for the cause at this point. He probably had no idea that this would blow up the way it has, but now he takes all of the criticism as proof that what he has chosen to do validates his decision. This is his moment in life to matter and he is more than willing to self immolate for the cause. Meanwhile in the real world he has tarnished any Democrat who has ever tried to claim voter disenfranchisement, he has made a total and complete joke of democratic ideology, he has completely destroyed the idea that Democrats care about democracy. In short he, has made a mockery of the election system, of democracy, and of himself.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a useful idiot as “a naive or credulous person who can be manipulated or exploited to advance a cause or political agenda” judge for yourself how that definition fits in this situation.
The public won’t have any difficulty figuring out which candidate refused to push back against Trump’s tariffs and his foolish war in Iran. They know why the price of groceries and gasoline are so darn high! They remember Trump’s campaign promises of releasing the Epstein files and will vote with their conscience. Wasn’t it supposed to be America First?
Actually. It’s Israel’s war. President Trump likely should had let Isreal do what it did on their own (without America) while President Trump continue waiting another long year for Iran to make a deal despite Iran stalled and stonewalled making a deal all through 2025.
They were going to strike Iran anyway. Trump put his relationship with Netanyahu ahead of politics (and knowing that America is an ally to Isreal). Trump is not a politician.
Decision made. It’s now in the past and you can’t change past decisions. Now corrections are in order.
Trump’s tariffs brought trillions of investment into the US. Some of it will end up funding the gasline.
The war with Iran has been going on since they seized the US Embassy in Tehran in 1979. Perhaps you missed it. It is never foolish to war against a nation well on their way to getting nukes. Difference between the Iranian Mullahs and everyone else in the world, it that they will use their nukes as soon as they can get their hot little hands on them in order to trigger the End of Days, and force the return of the 12th Imam. Removing their toys is indeed America First. Cheers –
Agimarc… yours is an informed and logical comment. Those criticizing the war are advocating for letting crazies get nuclear weapons. It is hard to understand how they could be so foolish.
This man is slimy impostor!
Vote for the REAL Dan Sullivan… Colonel Dan Sullivan.
The democrats can’t win if they can’t cheat. Here they are proving it again, thanks to the disingenous Amber Lee. The party of dishonesty, always.
Seems as if the Democrats really believe “The Ends Justify the Means” (attributed to Machiavelli) to use dirty tricks and deception to fool voters and win elections. If that is their belief system, then our country is in big trouble.
Keep speaking truth then the Dems will be the ones in trouble as our republic heals from their evil agenda.
My relatives who are 95 and 90 year residents of Petersburg and relatives to half the town have never heard of a local named Dan Sullivan. I am currently in Petersburg seeking out someone who knows the mysterious Dan. Frankly my relatives know everyone so this guy must be a REAL small potato in Petersburg, especially if as he claims has been in town for the last 50 years.
The real issue is not this guy’s credentials, lifestyle, looks, or record of legal problems. Voters can figure those things out for themselves; we don’t need to call him names. The real issue is his motive. Let’s review facts. He is historically a Democrat who supported Peltola. He just now flipped to Republican to engage in a ruse designed to help Peltola. They are trying to deceive voters as a way to steal their votes from incumbent Senator Sullivan. What lies in the hearts of those willing to engage in deceiving voters? Their’s is a brazen act of corruption and disrespect for voters. They may have overplayed their hand this time.
Wayne,
But what if we find out that Petersburg Dan Sullivan is actually a pedophile? Wouldn’t you want to know that?
Brystol, I agree with your point. None are without sins in their past. However, I would try to determine whether he had reformed, as I try to determine when interviewing prospective employees or tenants. However, if they try to deceive me in the application process, its a non-starter.