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Two Dan Sullivans
Two Dan Sullivans will appear on Alaska’s November Senate ballot, with CNN projecting that incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democratic challenger Mary Peltola will be joined by political newcomer and former school teacher Dan J. Sullivan.
“Two Dan Sullivans will be on the ballot in November for Alaska’s Senate seat”
CNN said the outcome could benefit Mary Peltola’s bid to flip the seat, noting that the top four vote finishers from last week’s all-party primary advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
NBC News projects that “Former teacher Dan J. Sullivan will join Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democratic challenger Mary Peltola on the general election ballot,” as Republicans criticized his candidacy as a potential ploy to confuse voters.
NBC News also reported that state and federal prosecutors are investigating whether his candidacy is part of a conspiracy to confuse voters, and that a grand jury issued subpoenas last week to compel information from witnesses linked to the Dan J. Sullivan campaign.
Endorsements and investigations
Former Anchorage Mayor Dan A. Sullivan endorsed incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan over retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan, writing on social media, “As the OG Dan Sullivan, I urge Alaskans to vote for Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. He’s been great for Alaska,” according to Fox News.
Fox News said Republicans have attempted to use legal mechanisms to remove Dan J. Sullivan from the ballot, and it cited that the Alaska Supreme Court held last month that Dan J. Sullivan could remain on the ballot after he was initially removed by the state’s Division of Elections.
NBC News reported that the federal investigation is moving forward, with a law enforcement official telling NBC News that a grand jury issued subpoenas last week to compel information from witnesses related to the Dan J. Sullivan campaign.
NBC News also said Dan J. Sullivan told The New York Times that he registered as a Republican because his previous political party, the Alaska Independence Party, no longer exists, and he declined to detail his involvement with the Democratic consultant because of the ongoing investigation.
What it could decide
The Alaska Senate race is framed as a potential headache for Republicans because the same-name situation could siphon votes from Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, with NBC News projecting that Dan J. Sullivan will join him and Mary Peltola on the general election ballot.
“The Cook Political Report rates the race a toss-up.”
NBC News reported that Democrats have targeted Alaska as an opportunity to flip a seat, and it said the Cook Political Report rates the race a toss-up while ranked-choice voting could allow voters to rank both Sullivans before Peltola.
CNN said Republicans are increasingly concerned that newcomer Sullivan, who filed to run as a Republican, will confuse voters and split the vote in what it described as a highly competitive race.
CNN also said to retake the Senate Democrats must secure a net gain of at least four seats in November, placing the Alaska contest inside a broader fight over control of the upper chamber.