Daniel J. Sullivan

A New York Times report alleges top aides to Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola searched voter rolls in 2025 for a resident named Dan Sullivan, hoping to recruit one to run against Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan and split his support under the state's ranked-choice system. The effort, reportedly run by operative Jerid Kurtz with DSCC coordination, found retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. in Petersburg, who entered the race; both Sullivans now appear on the four-person ballot, distinguished by middle initial, "Jr.," party affiliation, and an "Incumbent" label. Peltola's campaign and the DSCC deny involvement, calling the report a "distraction," though a fired former campaign manager told the Times Peltola was "definitely aware."

Gov. Mike Dunleavy directed Alaska's Department of Public Safety to investigate whether the scheme violated state law, saying the report shows an "organized effort" to confuse voters. The order follows Trump's call for Peltola's prosecution and a DOJ lawsuit seeking to block certification of a Peltola win if Sullivan Jr. stays on the ballot. Dunleavy has since suggested the state could withhold or delay certifying the Senate results if Peltola wins, pending the probe's findings, and the House Oversight Committee has opened its own inquiry. Sullivan Jr. denies coordinating with Democrats, and the Alaska Supreme Court previously allowed him to remain on the ballot; a legal analyst notes recruiting a spoiler candidate, even if true, may not be illegal under Alaska law.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has directed the Department of Public Safety to investigate allegations that staff for Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee recruited namesake challenger Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. to siphon votes from Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan. The probe follows New York Times reporting, partly based on a since-retracted account from Peltola's fired former campaign manager, Elisa Rios, describing an internal "ballot composition" effort allegedly involving Peltola's campaign lawyers and senior DSCC aides. The Peltola campaign and DSCC deny involvement, with Peltola calling the controversy "a distraction"; the retired Petersburg teacher also denies running at Democrats' behest, though he has acknowledged a history of backing Peltola and other Democrats.

President Trump called for Peltola's prosecution and removal from the ballot, and the Justice Department has issued fresh subpoenas to Democratic officials believed to be involved in the recruitment effort, building on an existing U.S. Attorney's Office inquiry into Daniel J. Sullivan dating back to summer. The DOJ has also sued to block certification if Sullivan narrowly loses, arguing the scheme amounts to a "conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the electoral process"; Alaska moved to dismiss that suit, calling it meritless, and a federal judge set an expedited schedule with a ruling possible within days. The Alaska Supreme Court previously rejected efforts to remove the challenger Sullivan from the ballot. Sen. Lisa Murkowski joined other Republicans condemning the alleged scheme as voters rank Sen. Sullivan, Peltola, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., and Gerald Heikes on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Dunleavy has declined to commit to certifying the election if Peltola wins while the investigation is ongoing, saying any finding of illegal conduct "may in fact impact whether somebody is seated in the U.S. Senate" and that officials would weigh whether to involve Senate leadership. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer has demanded testimony from operatives named in the reporting and threatened subpoenas of his own. Dunleavy's term ends Dec. 7, shortly after Alaska's target date for certifying results.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has directed the state's Department of Public Safety to investigate Democrat Mary Peltola's Senate campaign following a New York Times report alleging her team helped recruit a candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., sharing a name with her Republican rival, incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, to split his votes. The probe will examine whether the scheme violated state law. Peltola's campaign and the DSCC deny involvement with the decoy candidate; Peltola called the report a "distraction." President Trump demanded prosecution and removal of both from the ballot, while Vice President Vance called for a fraud investigation. The Alaska Supreme Court previously ruled Sullivan Jr. eligible to remain on the ballot.

The controversy intensifies a closely watched Senate race pivotal to chamber control, with the Justice Department already suing to block certification if Peltola wins while the second Sullivan remains on the ballot.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered an investigation into allegations, first reported by The New York Times, that Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign recruited a retiree named Dan J. Sullivan to run against incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan to confuse Republican voters. President Trump called for Peltola's removal from the ballot, though early voting already began October 19. The Justice Department has filed a preemptive lawsuit seeking to block certification if Peltola wins, a move Sen. Lisa Murkowski publicly opposed. Peltola's campaign dismissed the story as a distraction, while a former aide said Peltola was aware of the effort but not directly involved. It remains unclear whether any law was broken.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has ordered an investigation into Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola's campaign following a New York Times report alleging it helped recruit Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a political newcomer sharing a name with Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan, to confuse voters and split the GOP vote. The order follows President Trump's call for Peltola's criminal prosecution and his push to have the Justice Department sue to block certification of the race if Sullivan Jr. remains on the ballot. The Alaska Supreme Court previously ruled Sullivan Jr. eligible to run after state officials had disqualified him. Peltola called the report a "distraction" and denied campaign involvement.

Alaska's record-breaking Senate race between Democrat Mary Peltola and Republican incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan has taken a new turn as the Justice Department filed a lawsuit seeking to block certification of results if anyone other than Sullivan wins. The DOJ argues a same-named candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., could confuse the outcome, though the ballot lists the senator's party and incumbent status. Peltola called the suit a "desperate attempt" to cling to power; election integrity advocates and Democratic leaders, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, condemned it as an unprecedented intervention. The lawsuit adds legal uncertainty to a contest already defined by record spending and viewed as pivotal to Senate control.

Peltola has outraised Sullivan roughly $32 million to $13 million since January, with outside groups adding over $80 million more, as early voting continues ahead of the ranked-choice general election.

Americans for Public Trust filed a Federal Election Commission complaint alleging that Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher running against Alaska GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan, illegally coordinated with the liberal 907 Initiative, which has spent roughly $1.5 million on ads attacking the senator. The complaint centers on Democratic strategist Amber Lee, who worked for the J. Sullivan campaign while serving on the 907 Initiative's board. About $575,000 of the group's anti-Sullivan spending occurred in the final 90 days before the primary, and Lee reportedly helped J. Sullivan file his candidacy and draft campaign materials around the same time the group was booking ads against the senator. The 907 Initiative denies any wrongdoing, saying it never employed Lee and had no involvement in her work with the campaign.

J. Sullivan, dubbed "Decoy Dan," has faced accusations of running a bad-faith campaign designed to confuse voters given his shared name with the senator, whose race against Democrat Mary Peltola is among the nation's most competitive Senate contests.

Florida's primaries produced a mixed picture for both parties ahead of November's general election. Rep. Byron Donalds won the Republican gubernatorial nomination with Trump's endorsement and a large financial edge, beating Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, former House Speaker Paul Renner and newcomer James Fishback despite Gov. Ron DeSantis's public misgivings; Donalds would become Florida's first Black governor if elected. Former Republican congressman David Jolly, running with Gwen Graham as his lieutenant governor pick, won the Democratic nomination over state Rep. Dotie Joseph and others, pitching himself as a centrist who wants to end the culture wars. The two will meet in November to succeed the term-limited DeSantis, in a state where Democrats haven't won the governorship in over 30 years.

Progressive state Rep. Angie Nixon defeated establishment-backed Alex Vindman for the Senate Democratic nomination despite being outspent; she faces Republican Sen. Ashley Moody, who won her primary with Trump's backing, in the special election for Marco Rubio's former seat. Incumbents Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Jared Moskowitz turned back challengers, including Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, in redrawn districts under Florida's new Republican-favored congressional map. Trump-endorsed Cory Mills lost his House primary amid domestic violence allegations, while far-right figures Dan Bilzerian and Madison Cawthorn were also defeated, alongside Rep. Randy Fine's contentious win.