The other Dan Sullivan in Alaska's Senate race says candidacy is not a sham

By — Becky Bohrer, Associated Press Becky Bohrer, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/the-other-dan-sullivan-in-alaskas-senate-race-says-candidacy-is-not-a-sham Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter The other Dan Sullivan in Alaska's Senate race says candidacy is not a sham Politics Jun 9, 2026 1:54 PM EDT JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan acknowledges that sharing a name and party affiliation with the incumbent Republican gives him "an instant megaphone" in the crowded primary race. But Sullivan said his campaign isn't a sham or something Democrats put him up to doing. He said friends for years have jokingly referred to him as senator and asked if he has ever thought about running. He said he's been considering it for more than a decade. "This is my choice," Sullivan, who lives in the small fishing community of Petersburg, said in a telephone interview Monday. Last week, Sen. Dan Sullivan accused the challenger Sullivan of "trying to trick" voters to help his main rival in the race, Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. The senator suggested the other Sullivan's entrance in the August primary was part of a coordinated effort by Democrats and Peltola's campaign to confuse voters, an accusation they deny. He threatened litigation to get to the bottom of it. Late Monday, Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, a Republican who oversees elections in the state, announced she was opening an investigation into the candidacy of the challenger Sullivan. 'I have every right to run' The issue is of national concern to Republicans because they are seeking to hold onto their majority in the U.S. Senate in what is expected to be a difficult midterm election year for the party in power. Sullivan, the challenger, dismissed claims that his candidacy is a merely a ruse to undermine the senator's reelection chances. He said he has had no contact with Peltola's campaign — "zero, none, zilch" — and said "no" when asked if anyone from the state Democratic Party or any national Democratic operatives had contacted him to run. A Peltola spokesperson, Harry Child, has said the campaign "has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign." The executive director of the Alaska Democratic Party, Jenny-Marie Stryker, said her organization "is in no way affiliated with either Dan Sullivan." A Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson, Monica Robinson, replied "no" when asked if the group had been involved in urging the challenger Sullivan to run. READ MORE: Democrat Mary Peltola, barrier-breaking ex-Alaska congresswoman, is challenging Republican Dan Sullivan in Senate race Sullivan called sharing a name with the Alaska's incumbent U.S. senator "a matter of fate" and said he had done nothing wrong. "I have every right to run for whatever office I'm qualified for, and I'm qualified for this office," the challenger said, adding: "I think I'm d