A former mayor of Anchorage, Dan A. Sullivan, publicly endorsed incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan on August 18, urging Alaskans to vote for the senator in the upcoming US Senate election. This endorsement adds a new element to an unusual campaign featuring three candidates named Dan Sullivan.
Senator Dan S. Sullivan is seeking a third term in the US Senate. His campaign faces opposition from former Alaska Democratic congresswoman Mary Peltola and another candidate, Dan J. Sullivan. Dan J. Sullivan advanced from the August 18 primary to join the four-candidate general election field, which also includes one other contender.
The presence of Dan J. Sullivan in the race has led to accusations that he is a Democratic plant, aiming to draw votes away from Senator Dan S. Sullivan and thereby assist Peltola in winning. On the day of the primary, former President Donald Trump also weighed in, cautioning voters to support the incumbent, whom he referred to as the real Dan Sullivan, suggesting Democrats put up an imposter.
Dan A. Sullivan, who served as Anchorage mayor for six years starting in 2009, stated his support for Senator Dan S. Sullivan, calling him the OG Dan Sullivan and asserting he has been beneficial for Alaska. It is unclear if Dan A. Sullivan, 75, claimed the original title due to his age compared to Senator Dan S. Sullivan, 61, and Dan J. Sullivan, 70, a retired schoolteacher and US Forest Service employee with no prior political experience. Dan A. Sullivan also held his first elected office on Anchorage’s governing assembly from 1999 to 2008, predating Senator Dan S. Sullivan’s entry into elected office.
The Republican party previously attempted to prevent Dan J. Sullivan from running in the primary, arguing his campaign was a Democratic-orchestrated effort to confuse voters. Dan J. Sullivan, who appeared on the primary ballot without a party affiliation, has denied these claims, stating it was his choice to run due to dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in the US. Alaska has not had a Democratic Senate seat since 2008.
