JUNEAU, Alaska — An Alaska Senate hopeful named Dan Sullivan admits that having the identical name and Republican party registration as the current senator provides him with “an instant megaphone” in the competitive primary contest. However, Sullivan insists his political bid isn’t fraudulent or orchestrated by Democratic operatives.
The candidate explained that acquaintances have jokingly called him senator for years and questioned whether he’d ever considered seeking office. He noted he’s been mulling over a run for over ten years.
“This is my choice,” Sullivan, a resident of the small fishing town of Petersburg, stated during a Monday phone conversation.
Previously, Sen. Dan Sullivan claimed the challenger Sullivan was “trying to trick” voters to benefit his primary opponent in the race, Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. The sitting senator alleged the other Sullivan’s entry into the August primary was part of a coordinated Democratic scheme involving Peltola’s campaign to mislead voters, charges they reject. He warned of potential legal action to investigate the matter.
The situation has drawn national Republican attention as the party works to maintain their Senate majority during what’s anticipated to be a challenging midterm cycle for the governing party. Sullivan, the challenger, rejected assertions that his campaign serves merely as a ploy to damage the senator’s reelection prospects.
He stated he’s had zero communication with Peltola’s campaign — “zero, none, zilch” — and answered “no” when questioned whether state Democratic Party members or national Democratic operatives had approached him about running.
A Peltola spokesperson, Harry Child, stated the campaign “has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign.” The Alaska Democratic Party’s executive director, Jenny-Marie Stryker, said her organization “is in no way affiliated with either Dan Sullivan.” Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson Monica Robinson answered “no” when asked if the group had encouraged the challenger Sullivan to enter the race.
Sullivan described having the same name as Alaska’s sitting U.S. senator as “a matter of fate” and maintained he’d committed no wrongdoing.
“I have every right to run for whatever office I’m qualified for, and I’m qualified for this office,” the challenger stated, continuing: “I think I’m doing what most Americans would think would be a patriotic thing to do when you’re unsatisfied with the status quo. You stand up and say, I’m going to fight for things I believe that are going to make my community better.”
Previous Alaska ballots haven’t identified incumbents, though the Alaska Division of Elections’ current online candidate roster does. It also separates the candidates using middle initials — Dan S. Sullivan for the senator and Dan J. Sullivan for the challenger.
Alaska conducts open primaries where the top four vote recipients, regardless of party, proceed to the ranked choice general election in November. Sen. Sullivan’s campaign fears having two Dan Sullivans on the ballot might mislead voters.
Sen. Sullivan’s campaign stated Monday, “Alaskans deserve a fair and honest election — not political games meant to manipulate the ballot and benefit Democrats.”
The challenger revealed he was affiliated with the limited government-oriented Alaskan Independence Party for decades, until the party’s termination late last year. Election authorities indicated voters registered with the party could switch their affiliation, but those who didn’t would be listed as “undeclared.” Sullivan said he was then categorized as undeclared until filing for office, when he registered as Republican.
He explained he was partially inspired by his deceased father, whom he characterized as a “true, compassionate, conservative Republican.” He said if forced to categorize himself, it would be “a pragmatic Republican centrist” — comparable to Alaska’s senior U.S. senator, Lisa Murkowski, but “with touches of a Rand Paul Republican in there.”
He mentioned growing up in the Chicago region but was attracted to Alaska and established roots nearly five decades ago in Petersburg. The fishing community of approximately 3,400 in southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest is nicknamed “Little Norway” for its numerous residents with Scandinavian heritage. He was employed by the U.S. Forest Service before switching careers to become an educator. He has since retired.
Like many Alaska communities, Petersburg lacks connection to the state’s primary road network and is reachable only by aircraft or boat. Juneau, the closest city, is roughly 45 minutes away by plane.
Petersburg is located on Mitkof Island, characterized by mountains, dense forest stands and swampy areas called muskeg. Sea lions resting on buoys and humpback whales and orcas are frequently spotted off its coastline.
Sullivan, who turns 69 this weekend, declined an interview request last Friday, he explained, because the king salmon were running and he wanted to fish.
Regarding his office bid, the challenger said he intends to conduct some fundraising and hopes to campaign in the state’s major cities, including Anchorage and Juneau, though he currently has no concrete plans and is working out the specifics.
He finds the current controversy surrounding his Senate campaign — and the incumbent’s response — somewhat unexpected.
“I guess my thought would be, ‘Dude, why don’t you just run your campaign?’ If you’ve got a strong record, run on your record. People will love you for it and you’ll be swept back into office,” he said Monday. “Why would he be concerned that a guy out of Petersburg is this huge threat?”
