New York Times Report Links Alaska Spoiler Candidate to Democratic Strategy

Alaska voters may face a contested certification of their Senate race results after a New York Times investigation revealed that the entry of a second Dan Sullivan into the ballot was part of a coordinated Democratic effort. The report, published on October 29, details how retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan, a resident of a remote fishing village, was recruited to run as a Republican spoiler candidate.

The primary contest for the Senate seat pits incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan against Democratic Representative Mary Peltola. Dan J. Sullivan, who previously identified as unaffiliated, switched his party registration to Republican and submitted his candidacy just before the filing deadline. He has never sought office before. The Times found that Peltola’s campaign worked with individuals attempting to recruit him.

According to the investigation, the effort to recruit Dan J. Sullivan was part of a wider strategy to dilute the incumbent’s support. The group also attempted to coax other potential spoiler candidates into the race. The goal was to create uncertainty and help Peltola win the seat, which would contribute to a Democratic takeover of Congress.

The Justice Department, acting at the request of President Donald Trump, filed a lawsuit in federal court to block the certification of the election if the incumbent loses. The government alleged that Dan J. Sullivan was a Democrat in disguise whose sole purpose was to steal votes from the incumbent. The lawsuit argues that the presence of two identical names on the ballot confuses voters and undermines the integrity of the election.

Matthew Salisbury, a former congressional candidate, told the Times that wealthy donors approached him to run as an independent. Salisbury said he met one donor in an Anchorage pub and decided against running. He declined to name the man but stated, "I’m not naïve." This encounter illustrates the broader network of outreach that the Times identified in its reporting.

President Trump took to Truth Social to demand that both Peltola and the "fake" Dan Sullivan be removed from the ballot. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into the claims that Dan J. Sullivan was pushed to run. In a statement, Dunleavy said, "Alaskans have a fundamental right to vote for the candidate they actually intend to support. Deliberately tricking voters into casting their ballots for someone else strikes at the integrity of our elections."

Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican who has represented Alaska in the Senate since 2022, also issued a statement. She wrote that Alaskans deserve a full explanation and that candidates should run on their merits. Murkowski added, "By contrast, recruiting candidates to manipulate the field and influence voting outcomes is simply wrong."

Dan J. Sullivan maintains that he is running in good faith. In an August profile, he described himself as a moderate Republican acting of his own volition. He noted that he has previously voted for Alaska Republicans, including Murkowski. However, he acknowledged past donations to Peltola and other Democrats. He stated that he would prefer Peltola over the Republican incumbent if the choice were between those two candidates.