In a U.S. Senate race that could determine control of the chamber, Alaskans now face an unusual choice: Dan Sullivan or Dan Sullivan. And a third political heavyweight named Dan Sullivan has drawn a line in the sand, weighing in on which Sullivan he backs heading into November.
Earlier this week, former Anchorage Mayor Dan A. Sullivan endorsed Sen. Dan S. Sullivan (R-AK) for re-election this fall over retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan and former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola.
“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 his Facebook page.
The endorsement, which went viral on social media, follows a closely watched legal fight over Dan J. Sullivan’s Senate bid. The former elementary school teacher, who has no prior political experience, successfully qualified for the primary ballot, The Daily Wire previously reported.
Republicans, including the incumbent senator, have accused Dan J. Sullivan of working with Democrats and the Peltola campaign to confuse voters and boost Peltola’s chances of defeating Sen. Sullivan.
Dan J. Sullivan, Peltola’s campaign, and the Alaska Democratic Party have denied the allegation.
Sen. Sullivan has called his namesake’s candidacy a “dirty political trick coordinated by Democrats and the campaign” of Peltola and accused him of “purposely trying to trick my constituents to rig the election for Peltola.”
Alaska election officials initially removed Dan J. Sullivan from the ballot, but he ultimately prevailed at the state’s highest court and was allowed to run.
Republicans’ concerns intensified after Dan J. Sullivan placed third in the nonpartisan primary and secured a spot on the November ballot alongside Sen. Sullivan and Peltola.
The national GOP, however, got some good news in the latest vote dump from the August 18 election. As of Wednesday, Democratic candidate David B. Leslie was leading another Republican by just 43 votes for the final spot on the November ballot. If the result holds, Leslie would advance and could potentially pull votes away from Peltola.
Alaska uses ranked-choice voting in the general election. Voters rank candidates by preference, and if no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the lowest-performing candidate is eliminated and those ballots are redistributed according to voters’ subsequent choices.
Peltola also made waves earlier this month when she distanced herself from support offered by former Vice President Kamala Harris’ political action committee.
Harris’s Fight for the People PAC sent an email urging supporters to “stand behind Mary,” The Daily Wire reported. It called the Alaska contest a “must-win race” for Democrats hoping to retake the Senate and declared, “If there’s anyone who can flip Alaska and secure the Senate majority for Democrats — it’s Mary.”
Peltola’s team responded almost immediately, insisting it had not approved the email and had no knowledge of it before it went out.
“Mary isn’t seeking endorsements from anyone from the Lower 48 — her focus is and always will be Alaska,” the statement read.
The Cook Political Report ranks the race as a toss-up.
.png)
.png)
