Accusations fly over 2 candidates named Dan Sullivan on Alaska ballot

As of November 1, 2026, the FBI has begun investigating Mary Peltola's campaign for alleged collusion in recruiting a decoy candidate named Dan Sullivan, sharing a name with Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan. The investigation stems from revelations by The New York Times on October 28 that Peltola's campaign and senior Democratic officials participated in efforts to recruit spoiler candidates against the incumbent, including Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher who is not actively campaigning.

The New York Post reported on November 1 that FBI agents are now reaching out to donors of the decoy candidate Dan Sullivan to inquire about potential deception. This follows claims by Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and his supporters that Peltola's campaign was involved in confusing voters through deceptive tactics, potentially impacting voter choices in Alaska's Senate race.

Republican Senator Dan Sullivan warned on November 1 that he could lose votes due to the alleged scheme, stating it is "certainly deceitful, if not illegal." He accused Peltola’s team of attempting to manipulate election outcomes by tricking Alaskan voters into supporting a candidate with a similar name.