Times Report Says Peltola Campaign Backed Effort to Recruit Second Dan Sullivan
The New York Times reported on October 28, 2026, that the campaign of Mary Peltola, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Alaska, was behind an effort to recruit a challenger named Dan Sullivan to appear on the ballot against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.
According to the paper, Peltola campaign officials worked with the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the party's arm for Senate races, to find other people named Dan Sullivan in Alaska and encourage them to run. The Times said Peltola spent months recruiting candidates to draw votes away from the Republican incumbent.
Elisa Rios, whom Peltola fired in August, told the Times about the effort. She later tried to retract her interview.
Peltola's campaign has denied involvement with the other Dan Sullivan. In a statement on October 28, the campaign said it "has no involvement with either Sullivan campaign." A spokesperson for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee said, "The DSCC is not involved with Dan J. Sullivan."
The challenger is a retired teacher who lives in south-eastern Alaska and has little political experience. Alaska holds a nonpartisan primary, meaning candidates of every party run on one ballot, and the top four vote-getters move on. He finished among the top four in August, alongside the incumbent and Peltola.
Election authorities tried to disqualify him before that primary. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled that he can appear on the ballot. In the primary he received 4,107 votes, or 2.47 percent, according to the state's election summary.
His name on the general election ballot is "Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr." The incumbent is listed as "Sullivan, Dan S. (Registered Republican) Incumbent." Challenger Dan Sullivan had sought to appear as "Dan Sullivan" rather than under his registered name.
The race is also the subject of a separate legal matter. President Donald Trump said he ordered a Justice Department lawsuit over the Alaska Senate race. Peltola has asked a judge to dismiss that lawsuit.
