Peltola Campaign Tied to Recruit of Second Dan Sullivan

Alaska voters face a confusing ballot in next week's midterm election, with two candidates named Dan Sullivan appearing for the same U.S. Senate seat. The incumbent, Republican Dan Sullivan, will run against Democrat Mary Peltola and a retiree from southeastern Alaska named Daniel J. Sullivan. This setup stems from a recruitment effort linked to Peltola's campaign, according to a report by The New York Times published on Wednesday.

The reporting details how Peltola's team and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sought out individuals with the senator's name to potentially split the Republican vote. The strategy began in the summer of 2025, when Democrats explored placing a spoiler candidate on the ballot. Jerid Kurtz, an Ohio-based political operative, was hired to manage this effort. Kurtz first contacted a different prospective candidate who did not share the incumbent's name. He later recruited Daniel J. Sullivan, the retiree with minimal political experience, for the position.

Peltola’s campaign has denied involvement in the process. A spokesperson for the campaign stated that the Alaskans for Mary campaign has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign. The DSCC also distanced itself, saying the committee is not involved with Dan J. Sullivan. The DSCC pointed to a history of Republicans recruiting candidates in states including Alaska, Ohio, North Carolina, and Montana.

Elisa Rios, Peltola’s former campaign manager who was fired in August, provided the basis for the reporting. Speaking to The New York Times, Rios said Alaskan voters need to know. She later attempted to retract the interview. The newspaper’s account relies on interviews with Rios and other sources, as well as documents and text messages related to the recruitment drive.

The race has seen other shifts driven by outside operatives. After a second Democrat advanced through the August primary, Kurtz reportedly met with that candidate and persuaded him to drop out. Gerald Heikes, a perennial Republican candidate who has previously run for governor, Senate, and House seats, replaced him on the ballot. Heikes told The New York Times he was recruited by a guy from the Midwest, though he did not recognize the person as Kurtz.

Nate Adams, a spokesperson for incumbent Sullivan, accused Peltola and her team of gaslighting Alaskans for months while denying the scheme. He stated that Alaskans deserve the truth. The presence of two Sullivans has drawn criticism from Republicans, who argue the move is a tactical ploy to confuse voters and cost the incumbent his re-election.

State election officials attempted to disqualify Daniel J. Sullivan before the August primary. The state supreme court ruled that he could remain on the ballot. He finished among the top four vote-getters in the nonpartisan primary. On the general election ballot, the incumbent will be listed as Sullivan, Dan S. (Registered Republican) Incumbent, while the challenger will appear as Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr.

President Donald Trump shared the article on Truth Social, calling it proof of election fraud. He said Peltola should not be allowed to run. Last week, Trump acknowledged ordering the Department of Justice to file a lawsuit seeking to block the certification of election results if Sullivan loses. At an Alaska rally this month, he urged supporters to vote for the real Dan Sullivan.

The contest is one of the most closely watched in the midterms. Democrats are targeting Alaska to regain a Senate majority, currently holding 47 seats to the Republican 53. Recent polls have shown Peltola leading the race.