Effort to Recruit 'Second Dan Sullivan' Candidate Emerged as Early Voting Began in Alaska

An alleged effort to recruit a candidate named Dan Sullivan to run in Alaska's Senate race emerged as nearly 1 in 10 registered voters had already cast early ballots, according to a New York Times investigation.

The report, which cites text messages, interviews, and internal documents, suggests operatives linked to Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) were involved in recruiting a "second Dan Sullivan" to run against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.

This timing means an estimated 58,000 voters may have cast their ballots before learning of the reported scheme, which critics contend was intended to confuse voters. Peltola's campaign and the DSCC have denied any involvement in such efforts.

Dan J. Sullivan, an independent candidate, did qualify for the general election ballot, securing 2.5% of the vote in the primary. His campaign materials stated his goal was to "urge Alaskans to defeat incumbent, elect a Sullivan who stands up for Alaska." His campaign website did not detail his political positions.

The New York Times reported that the effort to recruit potential Republican spoiler candidates, including Dan J. Sullivan, involved coordination between the DSCC and Peltola's staff. A source interviewed by the newspaper indicated that Peltola was aware of these efforts.

The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit last week, expressing concern about potential confusion in the election if Sen. Dan Sullivan were to be defeated, and seeking to delay certification if such a scenario occurred. It remains unclear whether the DOJ's legal challenge will be successful.

Alaska's ranked-choice voting system further complicates the electoral landscape. Under this system, voters rank their preferred candidates. If a voter's top choice is eliminated, their vote is transferred to their second choice. While proponents argue this system empowers voters and increases the influence of diverse candidates, critics like Alaska state Sen. James Kaufman express concern about voter confusion and potential ballot fatigue, particularly among those who oppose the ranked-choice system.

Kaufman noted that some voters may not rank all candidates, potentially due to disagreements with the ranked-choice system itself, leading to a reluctance to fully engage with its mechanics.

The general election is scheduled to take place on November 3.