Mysterious Super PAC Backs 'Decoy Dan' Sullivan in Alaska Senate Race

A little-known super PAC, Right for Alaska, appears to be backing retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan, a Republican candidate in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race whose name is nearly identical to that of the incumbent senator, Dan S. Sullivan. The group, which lists a Wisconsin address, has spent over $2.3 million since late July supporting alternative Republican contenders, including nearly $1.15 million opposing Sen. Dan S. Sullivan himself, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Right for Alaska previously spent over $700,000 to support Gerald Heikes and more than $500,000 for Earl “Skip” Southworth in the Alaska Senate primary, neither of whom advanced to the general election. This shift in focus to Dan J. Sullivan, often referred to as “Decoy Dan,” comes after he secured a spot in the top four candidates advancing to the general election, which will be decided by ranked-choice voting.

The Alaska Senate race is considered a critical contest that could influence the balance of power in the U.S. Senate. Critics have accused Dan J. Sullivan of intentionally leveraging his name to confuse voters. Despite running as a Republican, he has also drawn support from Democrats, leading to FEC complaints and litigation. Early in his campaign, his website shared design similarities with Sen. Sullivan’s, and he was admonished for omitting his middle initial, which would have differentiated him from the incumbent.

Dan J. Sullivan has described himself as a moderate Republican, telling The New York Times that he has participated in protests and voted Democratic in recent presidential elections. He also stated his support for the incumbent’s Democratic opponent, Mary Peltola, in her previous congressional bids.

Right for Alaska was launched on March 23 and is operated by Thomas Datwyler, who is based in Wisconsin. FEC filings indicate Datwyler has been associated with multiple operations that have backed Republican candidates, with critics questioning his campaign finance tactics. In 2024, a group accused Datwyler of being a “shadow treasurer” for George Santos.

Thus far, Right for Alaska's disclosed donor list includes only William Harris of Lexington, Massachusetts, who contributed $100,000. Harris has also donated to Democratic candidates this cycle. The super PAC’s website has promoted Dan J. Sullivan, referring to him as an “authentic Alaskan” who “stands up to establishment politicos.” Federal campaign finance disclosures for the third quarter are not due until mid-October, meaning the group’s latest donors may not be publicly available until then.