Politics

Alaska governor orders probe into second Dan Sullivan on Senate ballot

October 30, 2026 • By Press Pass USA

Editorial illustration: a capitol building with a ballot box and scattered ballots in the foreground under an overcast autumn sky

Editorial illustration — Press Pass USA

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered a state investigation into Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign after a report said people aligned with it helped recruit a second candidate named Dan Sullivan — a near-namesake of the Republican incumbent — days before the November 3 election.

Dunleavy, a Republican, announced the order in a social media post on the evening of October 28, asking the state Department of Public Safety to determine whether criminal charges or civil action are warranted. "Deliberately tricking voters into casting their ballots for someone else strikes at the integrity of our elections," he wrote. "Anyone or any organization found to have broken the law must be held accountable."

The order followed a New York Times report published October 28 saying that people connected to Peltola's campaign, along with senior advisers at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, helped recruit Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher from Petersburg, to run for the Senate. The aim, according to the report, was to draw votes away from the incumbent, Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. Peltola's former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, told the newspaper that Peltola was aware of the effort but not directly involved.

Peltola's campaign has denied any role. "The Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign," it said in a statement. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has also denied involvement, and Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. has said he had no contact with Peltola's campaign. Peltola herself has called the report a distraction and, in remarks reported Friday, said she knew nothing about the alleged effort.

The controversy has drawn in investigators at every level. The House Oversight Committee chairman opened a congressional probe on October 29, and the Justice Department has issued new grand jury subpoenas in a criminal investigation, according to a person familiar with the matter cited by the Associated Press. The department had already sued Alaska election officials on October 22, asking a federal court to delay certification of the results if the incumbent loses. President Donald Trump, who has campaigned for the incumbent, has called for Peltola to be prosecuted and described the situation as "total election fraud." Sen. Sullivan accused Peltola and Washington Democrats of deciding "to cheat."

No one has been charged, and the ballot has not changed. The Alaska Supreme Court has ordered both Sullivans to remain on the November 3 ballot: the incumbent appears as "Dan S. Sullivan," identified as a registered Republican and the incumbent, while the other candidate appears as "Daniel J. Sullivan Jr." with no party affiliation. Alaska's Division of Elections investigated voter-confusion concerns in June; Dunleavy said the new reporting supported that agency's findings.

The stakes extend beyond Alaska. Republicans hold a narrow 53–47 Senate majority, so any change in membership could affect control of the chamber — and with it, the president's legislative agenda and judicial nominees. Early voting is already under way, and nearly one in ten registered Alaska voters had cast a ballot when the report appeared, meaning some votes were already in before the controversy broke.

Sources: USA TODAY (Oct 29, 2026); CNN (Oct 30, 2026); New York Times report (Oct 28, 2026) as reported by USA TODAY and CNN; Anchorage Daily News via syndicated reporting (Oct 30, 2026); Associated Press via syndicated reporting (Oct 29, 2026); NBC News (Oct 30, 2026).