Alaska Senate primary advances challenger Dan J. Sullivan to general election
Retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan secured a spot on the November ballot for Alaska's U.S. Senate race, joining incumbent Republican Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola after a court decision affirmed his eligibility.
A retired teacher from Petersburg, Dan J. Sullivan, qualified for the November general election in Alaska's U.S. Senate race after the state Supreme Court ordered his name placed on the ballot. He finished among the top four in the Aug. 18 primary, which uses ranked-choice voting, and will compete alongside incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan and Democratic former congresswoman Mary Peltola. The challenger had sued to be listed on the ballot after a state elections official initially barred him, alleging his candidacy was intended to confuse voters. The court rejected that claim and allowed him to run as an independent listed as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.
President Donald Trump endorsed the incumbent and described the challenger’s candidacy as an attempt to mislead voters. Dan J. Sullivan responded that the president was focusing on tariff issues rather than domestic costs such as groceries, housing and energy. Neither campaign returned requests for comment at the time of reporting.
Alaska’s Senate contest is viewed as one of several competitive races nationwide, with the incumbent and Peltola leading in fundraising and statewide recognition. The presence of a fourth candidate could influence the final outcome under the state’s ranked-choice system, where lower-placed candidates may affect the distribution of votes in later counting rounds.