Summary
Overview
The Daily investigates how Democrats secretly orchestrated getting a second candidate named Dan Sullivan onto Alaska's Senate ballot to hurt Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan's re-election chances. Reporter Kellen Browning's investigation reveals a coordinated effort by the Peltola campaign and national Democrats to recruit candidates who would split the Republican vote, contradicting months of Democratic denials.
The Two Dan Sullivans Mystery
Alaska's Senate race features an unusual situation where two candidates named Dan Sullivan appear on the ballot. Republican Senator Dan Sullivan is running for re-election, but another Dan Sullivan entered the race in May, prompting immediate Republican accusations of a Democratic plot to confuse voters. For months, both the second Dan Sullivan and Democrats denied any coordination, but new reporting reveals this was false.
- Control of the Senate may hinge on Alaska's race featuring two candidates named Dan Sullivan
- Republican Senator Dan Sullivan is seeking re-election while another Dan Sullivan entered the race in May
- Republicans immediately claimed this was a Democratic scheme to confuse voters
- Democrats and the second Dan Sullivan denied any coordination for months
" I'm talking about the real Dan Sullivan, not the fake Dan Sullivan. Not the Dan Sullivan put up by the Democrats. "
" This fake Dan Sullivan guy is not in it to win it. He's in it to rig it. "
Investigating Dan J. Sullivan in Petersburg
Reporter Kellen Browning traveled to Petersburg, Alaska, to interview Dan J. Sullivan, the second candidate. Sullivan presented himself as a moderate Republican fed up with the senator's policies who happened to share his name. He claimed no coordination with Democrats, though he admitted voting for Democratic candidates and donating to Mary Peltola's previous campaigns.
- Dan J. Sullivan is a retired teacher, volunteer firefighter, and longtime Petersburg resident
- He claimed to be a moderate Republican dissatisfied with Senator Sullivan's 12-year tenure
- Sullivan admitted he had voted for and donated to Democratic candidates, including Mary Peltola
- He refused to discuss details about how Democratic consultant Amber Lee helped him file candidacy papers
- Sullivan claimed he was afraid to discuss connections due to ongoing investigations
" There's this visceral connection you have with someone who has your own name. Some people even called him Senator around town. "
" I think the reason anybody runs is they're dissatisfied with what's going on. And we've had the senator for 12 years. I think we need a change. I'm willing to step up and do that. "
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