Dan Sullivan Says Alaskans Are 'Furious' Over 'Decoy Candidate' as He Makes Final Push Against Peltola
Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska says a controversy over a second candidate with nearly the same name is backfiring on his opponents and firing up his voters in the final hours of the campaign.
In an interview Monday with Newsmax host Greta Van Susteren, Sullivan accused Democratic challenger Mary Peltola's campaign and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of helping recruit a candidate meant to confuse Republican voters.
"They got a decoy candidate on the ballot," Sullivan said. "The whole thing reeks of disdain for the Alaskan people, Alaskan voters."
Two Dan Sullivans
The dispute centers on Dan J. Sullivan, a Republican who appears on the same ballot as the incumbent, Dan S. Sullivan. The senator argues the near-identical names were the whole point, designed to pull votes away from him in Alaska's ranked-choice election.
On October 29, Sullivan posted instructions on X urging supporters to rank him first, Republican Gerald Heikes second and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. third, and not to rank Peltola at all.
Sullivan said voters were reacting angrily as he traveled the state. "I'll tell you this, the Alaskan people are furious," he said. "I am seeing giant turnout at my rallies."
No statewide turnout figures were available to back up that assessment, which reflects the senator's own observations on the campaign trail.
Lawsuit Dismissed, FBI Mentioned
Sullivan's comments came after a judge on Sunday dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit over the similarly named candidate. The department had sought to stop Alaska from certifying the results if the incumbent lost, arguing the second candidacy could mislead voters.
Sullivan said he was focused on winning, not on the legal fight. "I'm not focused on the legal issues right now," he said. "We have the FBI."
He added that federal investigators would sort out responsibility. "They're going to find out who's guilty, who's not guilty going forward."
Dispute Over What Peltola Knew
Peltola has said she knew nothing about any effort to recruit the second Sullivan. "Peltola is saying she didn't know anything about it," the senator acknowledged on Monday.
Sullivan rejected suggestions that a New York Times report portrayed her knowledge as limited. "They said Peltola absolutely knew about this scheme," he said, alleging that senior Peltola aides received updates from Schumer's team and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
The senator also faulted Alaska news outlets for their coverage. "I don't think they dug into this enough," he said, suggesting more information could still come out.
The senator described the episode as extraordinary by Alaska standards and tied the local ballot fight to the broader Democratic push to win Senate seats, accusing his opponents of treating voters with contempt.
His closing message to voters was blunt. "Do not let Schumer and Peltola steal your vote," Sullivan said. "It's exactly what they wanted to do."
The race is one of the most closely watched in the country. Polling has shown Peltola narrowly ahead, and the result could help decide which party controls the Senate, where Republicans currently hold 53 seats.
Sullivan's campaign is betting that voter anger over the ballot dispute will turn into strong Republican turnout before polls close Tuesday night.