Alaska Republican Senator Dan Sullivan has accused Senate Democrats of attempting to interfere in his upcoming re-election campaign by allegedly recruiting a retiree with the same name to run against him. Sullivan made the claims in an interview with the "Ruthless Podcast," stating that the Democratic Party is employing a strategy to "steal" his name and confuse voters in the pivotal race, which could influence control of the U.S. Senate.
Sullivan, first elected in 2014, told the podcast that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and "far-left groups" have been targeting Alaska as a key state for Democrats. He asserted that after initial negative ad campaigns failed to significantly impact his standing, the opposition resorted to what he described as "cheating" by recruiting a second candidate named Dan Sullivan. This individual, described by Sullivan as a "far-left progressive," reportedly attempted to use Sullivan's middle initial when registering with the Division of Elections and allegedly tried to take over the senator's website and logo.
Podcast co-host Josh Holmes suggested the alleged scheme aims to siphon off a small percentage of votes, potentially ranging from two to five percent, to make the race competitive for the incumbent Democrat, Mary Peltola. Peltola, who currently serves as Alaska's at-large representative in the House, is the leading candidate in the Democratic primary. Her campaign has denied any involvement with the other Dan Sullivan's candidacy.
Sullivan expressed confidence that this tactic will backfire, suggesting that voters are already aware of and angered by the alleged maneuver. He highlighted his consistent engagement with constituents, stating, "I'm home every weekend, working at parades, nobody works harder than me and my team."
The race in Alaska is considered a critical contest for Republicans seeking to maintain or expand their majority in the Senate. The Republican Party currently holds a 53-47 advantage over Democrats and Independents in the chamber. Fox News projects the Alaska Senate race as a "toss-up," alongside contests in Iowa, Maine, and Ohio.
Voters in Alaska will participate in primaries on August 18, with the general election scheduled for November 3.