Former Anchorage Mayor Dan A. Sullivan has entered the crowded field of Alaska Senate candidates named Sullivan, endorsing incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and urging Alaskans to support him in November.

The endorsement from the former mayor adds another layer to an already complicated race featuring three candidates who share the same name. The situation has drawn legal challenges, ballot disputes, and now federal and state investigations into whether one of the Dan Sullivans is part of a coordinated effort to mislead voters.

Alaska uses a nonpartisan primary system where the top four vote-getters advance regardless of party affiliation. Those four then face off in the general election using ranked-choice voting, where voters rank candidates in order of preference and lower-performing candidates are eliminated progressively until one reaches a majority.

What the Right Is Saying

Sen. Dan S. Sullivan and his Republican allies have accused teacher Dan J. Sullivan of running as a GOP candidate specifically to siphon votes from the incumbent in what they describe as a Democratic-aligned scheme.

"He's been great for Alaska," wrote Dan A. Sullivan on social media, endorsing the senator while calling himself "the OG Dan Sullivan."

Republicans point to evidence that Dan J. Sullivan has worked with consultants aligned with Democratic interests. The GOP has pursued legal action to remove Dan J. Sullivan from the ballot, arguing his candidacy constitutes an effort to rig the election.

Dan J. Sullivan has denied those accusations, stating he is a legitimate moderate Republican challenger with genuine dissatisfaction with Sen. Sullivan's representation of Alaska. He successfully challenged his removal from the primary ballot before the Alaska Supreme Court last month.

What the Left Is Saying

Democrats have largely avoided direct involvement in the intra-Republican dispute over the Dan Sullivan candidates, but some progressive groups have noted that Alaska's ranked-choice system could mitigate potential voter confusion caused by same-name candidacies.

Rep. Mary Peltola, who advanced to the general election alongside Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, represents the Democratic side of what is expected to be a competitive November matchup. Her campaign has not commented on the multiple Sullivan candidates.

Alaska Democrats have pointed to the state's electoral system as a safeguard against confusion. The ranked-choice mechanism allows voters to express preferences beyond their first choice, which party officials argue provides protection if voters are initially uncertain about which candidate they support.

What the Numbers Show

According to the Associated Press, Dan S. Sullivan and Rep. Mary Peltola have advanced to the general election as votes continue to be counted. It remains unclear whether Dan J. Sullivan will join them among the top four finishers.

The Alaska Division of Elections initially removed Dan J. Sullivan from the ballot before the state's high court reversed that decision, ruling he could remain in the race. Federal and state prosecutors are now investigating whether there is evidence of a coordinated conspiracy to confuse voters.

Alaska's ranked-choice system has been in place since 2022, when voters approved it through a ballot initiative. The first cycles using the new format showed mixed results in terms of voter comprehension, with some studies indicating confusion among participants about how to properly rank candidates.

The Bottom Line

The Alaska Senate race represents an unusual test case for election integrity mechanisms when same-name candidacies create potential for voter confusion. What happens next depends largely on whether prosecutors find evidence of illegal coordination and whether Dan J. Sullivan qualifies for the general election.

If all three Dan Sullivans appear on the November ballot, voters will need to pay close attention to distinguish between them using their middle names or initials. Election officials are expected to issue guidance on how to help voters make informed choices among candidates with identical first and last names.