President Donald Trump has entered the fray surrounding the unusual Republican primary in Alaska, alleging that Democrats have engaged in "trickery" by fielding a candidate with the same name as the incumbent U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan. Voters in Alaska are set to participate in primary elections on Tuesday, with the Senate race considered pivotal for determining the balance of power in Congress.
Trump posted on his social media platform that the "Crooked, Radical Left Dumocrats" had put up another man named Dan Sullivan to siphon votes from the incumbent. He claimed Democrats were attempting to "trick" Alaskans and showed contempt for their voters. However, the Alaska Democratic Party and the campaign of former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola, who is seeking to flip the seat, have stated they have no involvement or affiliation with the challenger.
Trump shared a screenshot of a sample ballot, distinguishing the incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan with a green checkmark and a "Trump-endorsed" marker. The challenger, identified as Dan J. Sullivan, is a retired fifth-grade teacher who describes himself as a pragmatic Republican. The incumbent, two-term Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan, has labeled Dan J. Sullivan a "sham" candidate, asserting his candidacy is intended to confuse voters. Democrats and Dan J. Sullivan deny this.
Dan J. Sullivan, whose name is also his grandfather's and father's, has stated he has "every right to stand up and do this." His candidacy has prompted complaints from Republicans, legal challenges, and a Department of Justice investigation. In late June, the Alaska Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's decision allowing Dan J. Sullivan to remain on the state's U.S. Senate ballot.
Trump reaffirmed his endorsement of Senator Dan S. Sullivan, calling him a "GREAT man" and a "very distinguished and Highly Respected Senator," and adding, "‘SULLIVAN, DAN S’ has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election – HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!"
Under Alaska's nonpartisan primary system, the top four candidates advance to the general election, where ranked-choice voting is used, irrespective of their political party. This system allows for the possibility of both candidates named Dan Sullivan appearing on the November ballot.
Trump has also been a vocal critic of Alaska's voting system, previously calling ranked-choice voting "ONE OF THE GREATEST THREATS TO DEMOCRACY" in April and urging Alaskans to support efforts to repeal the practice.