A politician named Dan Sullivan has publicly backed his namesake incumbent over another namesake rival in Alaska’s bizarre three-way Senate naming collision.
Former Anchorage Mayor Dan A. Sullivan, 71, endorsed Sen. Daniel S. Sullivan on Facebook last Tuesday, injecting himself into one of the most closely watched Senate races in the country. The ex-mayor’s post went viral on Sunday after VoteHub amplified it across social media platforms.
“As the OG Dan Sullivan, I urge Alaskans to vote for Sen. Daniel S. Sullivan. He’s been great for Alaska,” the former mayor posted on Facebook last Tuesday.
The endorsement highlights a electoral quirk that has gripped Alaska politics: three men named Dan Sullivan are competing for the same Senate seat, creating genuine confusion among voters and fertile ground for political maneuvering.
The August 19 open primary saw candidates from all parties compete, with the top four advancing to November’s general election under Alaska’s ranked-choice system. Former Rep. Mary Peltola, 56, currently leads the field with a 5.4 percentage point edge over the incumbent senator in the latest tabulation. Both Peltola and Sen. Sullivan have been projected to advance, while retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan appears poised to claim the third spot despite outstanding votes remaining uncounted.
GOP critics have nicknamed the retired teacher “Decoy Dan” and accused him of functioning as a Democratic plant designed to exploit voter confusion. The former public school teacher admitted to the New York Times that he voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in the past three presidential elections, though he maintains he is a moderate Republican.
A lower court initially removed Dan J. Sullivan from the ballot, citing evidence that he was not mounting “an actual good-faith candidacy” and noting he registered as a Republican only days before filing. The Alaska Supreme Court ultimately reversed that decision and restored his place on the ballot.
Earlier this month, the Justice Department reportedly secured grand jury subpoenas to investigate the retired teacher’s candidacy, signaling potential federal scrutiny of whether his campaign violated election laws.
In the viral moment that sparked national attention, the former mayor’s “OG Dan Sullivan” framing positioned himself as the original figure in Alaska’s political landscape while distinguishing between the two remaining contenders. His endorsement carried particular weight given his own electoral history in the state.
Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system means that if no candidate secures 50% in November, second and third preferences from eliminated candidates get redistributed. The presence of two Sullivans on the general election ballot could complicate that process, with voters potentially ranking one Sullivan only to discover their ballot helped a different namesake.
The Senate contest ranks among the most competitive nationwide, alongside races in Michigan, Maine, North Carolina, Texas, Iowa, and Ohio. While Alaska has historically leaned Republican, Peltola’s strong showing reflects the state’s evolving political dynamics and her own electoral success in previous cycles.
Sen. Daniel S. Sullivan, 59, is seeking his second term after first winning election in 2014. He has emphasized his record on Alaska-specific issues including resource development and military presence during the campaign.
The general election will be held in November with the ranked-choice tabulation to follow if no candidate clears the majority threshold.