Democrats eye potential Senate flip in Alaska with 2 Republican Dan Sullivans on the ballot
Alaska's Top-Four Primary Puts Two Dan Sullivans in a Race That Could Decide the Senate
Tyunews.com – Tuesday's primary in Alaska carries outsized national weight: the outcome may tip control of the U.S. Senate next year. More than a dozen candidates are competing, and two of them share the exact same name — Dan Sullivan.
The Name-Clash Dispute
Incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan, who holds President Donald Trump's endorsement, is locked in a bizarre head-to-head with Dan J. Sullivan, a retired fifth-grade teacher who brands himself a "pragmatic Republican." The senator has dismissed his namesake as a
"sham" candidate who he claims was planted by Democrats to confuse voters.
Trump entered the fray on Friday, labeling Dan J. Sullivan's run a product of Democratic
"trickery."
Other Republicans voiced complaints, and the Justice Department confirmed it was investigating the matter.
The ballot fight began in June, when Alaska's Division of Elections — administered by Republican Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom — ordered Dan J. Sullivan struck from the ballot. The agency concluded his candidacy lacked good faith and was designed
"to confuse or mislead and to thereby compromise the ballot's fairness or neutrality."
He filed suit, and the Alaska Supreme Court ultimately ruled in his favor in late June, restoring his name to the ballot.
Peltola and the Democratic Push
Former congresswoman Mary Peltola, a Democrat, is the other major figure in the contest. She captured Alaska's at-large congressional seat in 2022, becoming the first indigenous member of Congress and the first woman ever to hold that state's House seat. Campaign staff are amplifying her more moderate policy positions in hopes of attracting swing voters.
Alaska backed Trump in all three of his presidential bids, but Democrats are betting that inflationary pressures and frustration with his administration will pull moderate voters their way.
A Broader Political Upheaval in the Last Frontier
The Begich surname is surfacing in two separate Alaska races. Republican Representative Nick Begich III, who unseated Peltola in 2024, is seeking reelection in the state's single congressional district. His uncle, Tom Begich — former state Senate Minority Leader — is running for governor on the Democratic ticket.
Incumbent Republican Governor Mike Dunleavy is term-limited after two consecutive terms, leaving the gubernatorial primary wide open. Alaska has not elected a Democratic governor since 2002. Former Governor Bill Walker, who held office from 2014 through 2018, is also vying for the seat as an independent.
How the Top-Four System Works
Alaska's ballot lists every candidate together regardless of party label; each voter selects a single name. Unlike conventional primaries, the result does not crown a party nominee. Instead, the four candidates earning the most votes advance to the November general election. Under that mechanism, both Sullivans and Peltola could appear on the fall ballot simultaneously. Polls remain open until 8 p.m. local time.
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