Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher running as a Republican for Alaska’s U.S. Senate seat, told the New York Times on Tuesday that he previously voted for former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska) in 2022 and 2024. Sullivan is one of several candidates competing in Tuesday’s open primary, a field that includes both Peltola and the incumbent, Sen. Dan S. Sullivan (R-Alaska).
The candidate's statements come as he faces accusations from the incumbent senator that his candidacy is intended to confuse voters. Alaska utilizes an open primary system where the top four candidates, regardless of party affiliation, advance to the November general election. Polling from early August by Alaska Survey Research showed Peltola leading the incumbent by 2 points, while a June New York Times/Siena University poll showed the incumbent ahead by 2 points.
In addition to his votes for Peltola, Dan J. Sullivan stated he voted for Democratic presidential nominees in the last three election cycles and participated in protests against the Trump administration. He told the New York Times that if he had to choose between the incumbent senator and Peltola, he would support the former congresswoman. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan (R-Alaska) said in June that the challenger was "purposely trying to trick my constituents to rig the election for Peltola."
For Alaska voters, this development highlights the mechanical complexities of the state's open primary system, where candidates from the same party or with similar names compete on a single ballot. A person casting a vote will see two entries for "Dan Sullivan" and must distinguish between a retired teacher and a two-term incumbent Marine Corps veteran. The Peltola campaign has denied any affiliation with the challenger's campaign, but the candidate's admission of support for the Democratic challenger provides a specific contrast in a race that could determine party control of the U.S. Senate.
The next steps in this process occur immediately, as voters cast ballots in the Tuesday primary to select the top four candidates. The final results will dictate the lineup for the November general election. The outcome of the race between Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and Mary Peltola is considered highly competitive by local analysts, with polling averages suggesting a margin of error lead for either side. The impact of the second Dan Sullivan's candidacy on the final tally will be known once election officials certify the primary results.