---
title: "Two Dan Sullivans on Alaska Ballot Spark State"
url: https://www.herenewberry.com/2026/10/30/alaska-senate-two-dan-sullivans-probes-peltola/
date: 2026-10-30T10:05:31-04:00
modified: 2026-10-30T10:05:31-04:00
author: "HERE City National Desk"
categories: ["National", "Politics"]
site: "HERE Newberry"
attribution: "HERE Newberry"
---

# Two Dan Sullivans on Alaska Ballot Spark State

> WASHINGTON — Five days before Election Day, Alaska's tight U.S. Senate race is now the subject of both a state investigation and an expanded federal court fight over a little-known candidate who shares a name with the Republican incumbent, Sen. Dan Sullivan. Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, said Wednesday night that he has directed the

*Source: [HERE Newberry](https://www.herenewberry.com/2026/10/30/alaska-senate-two-dan-sullivans-probes-peltola/) — October 30, 2026 by HERE City National Desk*

WASHINGTON — Five days before Election Day, Alaska’s tight U.S. Senate race is now the subject of both a state investigation and an expanded federal court fight over a little-known candidate who shares a name with the Republican incumbent, Sen. Dan Sullivan.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, said Wednesday night that he has directed the Alaska Department of Public Safety to look into whether an effort to recruit the second candidate broke state law and whether criminal charges or a civil case are justified. His order followed a published report this week alleging that Democratic operatives connected to challenger Mary Peltola’s campaign helped encourage the man to run.

Peltola, a former congresswoman, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have denied any role, and Peltola dismissed the report as a distraction. The second candidate, a retired rural teacher, has said entering the race was his own decision.

The Justice Department had already sued last week, asking a court to hold off certification if the incumbent loses narrowly because of voter confusion. On Thursday it filed an amended complaint that cites the new allegations. Election law experts have widely called the federal case weak, noting that the Constitution leaves the running of elections largely to the states.

State courts have already ruled on the question. Alaska’s elections director tried in June to keep the challenger off the ballot, but a judge reversed that decision and the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the ruling days later.

Under Alaska’s ranked-choice system, voters can rank any or all of the four Senate candidates: the two Sullivans, Peltola and Republican Gerald Heikes. The ballot lists the challenger first with no party label, and the senator directly below him, marked as the incumbent and a registered Republican. In the August top-four primary, Peltola led with 49.5%, the senator drew 41.4%, and the other Sullivan took 2.5%.