In Petersburg, Alaska, FBI agents have visited neighbors and donors of Dan J. Sullivan, a former elementary school teacher who ran for the U.S. Senate under the same name as incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. The federal inquiries are part of a broader criminal probe by the Trump administration into allegations of "ballot stacking," a tactic where candidates are recruited to split the vote of an opponent. While a federal judge dismissed a Trump administration lawsuit seeking to block election certification, the Justice Department has appealed, and the investigation into campaign finance and potential deception continues.
The controversy centers on the distinction between the two Sullivans. Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, the incumbent, is identified on the ballot as the Republican candidate. Dan J. Sullivan, a local resident and teacher, filed as a Republican but has been characterized by the incumbent’s camp and federal investigators as a potential decoy candidate. State courts previously overturned an attempt by the Alaska Division of Elections to remove Dan J. Sullivan from the primary ballot for lack of "good faith." The situation has intensified scrutiny on Alaska’s open primary and ranked-choice voting systems, which allow lesser-known candidates to impact outcomes in races where no contender secures a majority.
What the Right Is Saying
Sen. Dan S. Sullivan has used the controversy to reinforce his candidacy, distinguishing himself from the namesake candidate. "My costume is the real Dan Sullivan – not the fake guy," the senator said to trick-or-treaters in Petersburg. The incumbent’s camp argues that the entry of Dan J. Sullivan was a coordinated effort by Democratic operatives to fracture the Republican vote in a tight race that could determine control of the Senate.
Some local residents support the federal probe. Amanda Ohmer, a Petersburg bartender, stated she was "shocked" when the former teacher entered the race as a Republican just days after Peltola visited the town. "You don’t see a Republican at a No Kings protest," Ohmer said, referring to an anti-Trump demonstration Sullivan had attended. Ohmer described the tactic as "sleazy," adding, "Just because Republicans do it, too, doesn’t make it right."
What the Left Is Saying
Democrat Mary Peltola, who is challenging Sen. Sullivan, has denied any involvement in the alleged scheme. "This is Alaska. We’re not in the business of tricking each other up here," Peltola told supporters at a rally in Anchorage. She has sought to distance her campaign from a New York Times report linking a group supporting her to a Democratic operative involved in recruiting decoy candidates.
Local residents who supported Dan J. Sullivan expressed skepticism regarding the federal investigation. Sharon Hunter, who donated $1,000 to the teacher’s campaign, stated, "I’m a bit incredulous about their whole angle... because they’re targeting a person who’s been a real contributor in this community." Hunter described the federal presence as a "waste of our taxpayer money." Charles Flint, another donor, noted that Sullivan never explained his reasons for running but suggested the teacher likely viewed himself as a "spoiler" rather than a legitimate contender.
What the Numbers Show
Dan J. Sullivan’s campaign received a total of $7,150 in contributions, primarily from residents of Petersburg. FBI agents interviewed more than a dozen donors, asking whether they felt deceived by the candidate’s name similarity to the senator and if they had intended to contribute to the incumbent’s campaign. Alaska has one of the highest percentages of independent voters in the country, with approximately 60% of its 600,000 registered voters identifying as independents. The state’s ranked-choice voting system has previously seen similar tactics; in 2024, the Alaska Republican Party fought to keep an imprisoned felon on the ballot as a Democratic candidate for the House seat then held by Peltola.
The Bottom Line
The federal investigation into "ballot stacking" allegations in Alaska remains active, with the Justice Department appealing a recent dismissal of a lawsuit aimed at challenging the election results. The outcome of this probe could influence the certification of the Senate race in Alaska, a key contest for control of the chamber. Legal experts note that while decoy candidates are not uncommon in Alaska’s history of tight races, the involvement of federal law enforcement marks a significant escalation in the scrutiny of these campaign tactics.