Alaska Senate Ballot Features Two Dan Sullivans Amid Republican Criticism

The U.S. Senate race in Alaska for the November midterms will feature two candidates with the first and last name Dan Sullivan. This development has prompted high-level Republican intervention to examine whether the similar names are confusing voters on purpose.

President Donald Trump called the situation a fraud on Thursday. Speaking before a trip to South Carolina, Trump said the move was done in conjunction with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and others. He argued that voters would not know what to do and that the practice should not be allowed to happen.

Vice President JD Vance supported the president's view on the same day. Vance described the situation as disgraceful and suggested that the Democratic candidate committed a moral failing, regardless of whether it was criminal. He expressed hope that Alaskan voters would punish her for it.

The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Mary Peltola's campaign staffers attempted to recruit a candidate with the same name as incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan. Peltola, a former congresswoman, is running for the Senate. Her campaign issued a statement saying it had no involvement with either Sullivan campaign.

The two candidates appear on the ballot with different middle initials. Daniel J. Sullivan is listed without any additional descriptors. Daniel S. Sullivan is listed with the labels incumbent and Republican next to his name. Alaska's highest state court previously ruled that both men should remain on the ballot.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, ordered an investigation into alleged election manipulation following the reports. Rep. James Comer, the chair of the House Oversight Committee, also announced an investigation on Thursday. Comer sent a letter requesting in-person testimony from key Peltola staffers next week.

The effort to place a second Dan Sullivan on the ballot is not illegal. Alaska uses ranked choice voting for its elections. If no candidate wins a majority in the Senate race after the midterm elections, the ranked choices will be tallied to determine the winner.