Governor Directs Department of Public Safety to Investigate
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy ordered the state Department of Public Safety to investigate whether a Democratic campaign strategy involving a same-name candidate violated state laws, following a published media report. Governor Dunleavy announced the probe on X, stating that the inquiry would determine if criminal charges or civil actions are warranted regarding the presence of two candidates named Dan Sullivan on the upcoming ballot, as BBC reported on October 29, 2026.
The governor’s directive follows investigative reporting by the New York Times alleging that operatives connected to Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola and senior aides at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) worked to recruit a retired teacher also named Dan Sullivan to run in the race. Republicans argue the move was designed to split the vote of incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan.
Political Fallout and Legal Precedents
The controversy has intensified the final days of campaigning for one of the nation’s tightest Senate races, which could help determine control of Congress ahead of nationwide midterm elections on Tuesday. Incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan called on his opponent to come clean during a Fox News appearance, while Senator Lisa Murkowski accused the rival campaign of a pattern of lies. President Donald Trump weighed in via social media, calling for Peltola to be barred from the ballot.
Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC have strongly denied any wrongdoing or involvement in recruiting the second candidate. A campaign spokesperson stated that Alaskans for Mary has no connection to either Sullivan campaign. The Alaska Supreme Court previously rejected efforts by Republicans to remove the retired teacher from the ballot, ruling that he broke no state laws by running, though a federal legal challenge aiming to block certification remains pending.
Ballot Confusion and Election Stakes
Voters in Alaska’s ranked-choice voting system will see the incumbent listed as Dan S Sullivan, identified as the Republican senator, alongside Daniel J Sullivan Jr, the retired teacher from a remote fishing village who has likewise denied links to the Peltola campaign. Analysts warn that voter confusion over the identical surnames could drag out vote tabulation and delay the final national outcome.
The investigation further complicates an already turbulent stretch for the Peltola campaign, which recently paused public events after the candidate and her family sustained minor injuries in an automobile accident. State authorities have not established a timeline for the Department of Public Safety inquiry, leaving the immediate legal and electoral impact uncertain as voters prepare to head to the polls.