Second Dan Sullivan Advances in Alaska Senate Primary

Alaska voters will see two candidates named Dan Sullivan on the November ballot for U.S. Senate, one of the most closely watched contests of the cycle. The incumbent Republican, Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, will share the ballot with Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg who advanced from the Aug. 18 primary after a legal fight over his eligibility. Former Rep. Mary Peltola, the Democratic nominee, also advanced, setting up a ranked-choice general election in a state where the outcome could help determine Senate control.

Alaska’s primary system sends the top four finishers, regardless of party, to the general election. With nearly all ballots counted, Peltola received 48.2 percent and the senator took 42.6 percent. Dan J. Sullivan captured 2.5 percent, enough to secure the final spot. A fourth candidate remains undetermined. The senator’s campaign and Republican allies had argued that the challenger filed as a Republican days before the deadline with the intent to confuse voters. State election officials initially disqualified him, but the Alaska Supreme Court ordered him restored to the ballot. On primary ballots, the incumbent appeared as “Dan S. Sullivan, registered Republican, incumbent,” while the challenger was listed without party affiliation.

Dan J. Sullivan has rejected claims that he is a plant meant to siphon Republican votes. He has described himself as a moderate Republican, though he told the New York Times he voted for Democratic presidential nominees in the last three cycles and supported Peltola in her House races. President Trump endorsed the incumbent and called the other Sullivan’s candidacy an attempt to trick voters. The challenger has criticized the senator for embracing that endorsement, saying Trump is more focused on tariffs than on lowering costs for groceries and energy.

The race draws attention because of Alaska’s electoral rules and its political history. The state has not elected a Democratic senator since 2008, yet Peltola flipped the at-large House seat in 2022 and ran competitively in 2024. Polls show the Senate contest near even. Ranked-choice voting will be used in November, allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. Supporters of the system note that it can reduce the impact of vote splitting, since voters who like both Sullivans can rank them ahead of Peltola. Still, some voters rank only one candidate, and even a small number of confused or single-choice ballots could matter in a tight race.

Outside spending exceeded $2 million in the primary to support or oppose various candidates, and similar efforts are expected before November. The senator’s allies have already run ads that include his middle initial to distinguish the two men. Peltola’s campaign has undergone recent staffing changes as she seeks to hold together a coalition in a state Trump carried by double digits in 2024.

The presence of two candidates with nearly identical names introduces an unusual variable into an already competitive contest. Whether the challenger’s modest primary showing translates into meaningful general-election support remains unclear, but the mechanics of Alaska’s voting system will determine how any confusion ultimately affects the final tally.