Alaska Senate Candidate Dan Sullivan Denies Sham Candidacy Claim
The challenger Dan Sullivan said sharing a name with the incumbent gives him visibility but called his run a personal decision. He denied any contact with Democratic campaigns or operatives. Alaska's lieutenant governor opened an investigation into the filing.
pbs.orgAlaska U.S. Senate candidate Dan Sullivan said sharing a name and party with the incumbent gives him "an instant megaphone" in the primary but insisted the candidacy is his own choice. The challenger, who lives in Petersburg, said he has considered running for more than a decade and has had no contact with Democratic campaigns or national party operatives.
He described the decision as motivated by his late father's example and labeled himself a pragmatic Republican centrist.
Last week the incumbent accused the challenger of trying to trick voters to help Democratic former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola. The incumbent threatened litigation and, late Monday, Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom announced she was opening an investigation.
Democratic officials and the Peltola campaign have denied any involvement. " The Alaska Democratic Party executive director and a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson also said their groups had no role.
Ballots will list the candidates with middle initials to distinguish them. Alaska uses open primaries in which the top four advance to a ranked-choice general election. The challenger said he switched from the Alaskan Independence Party to Republican when filing and plans limited fundraising and travel to Anchorage and Juneau. He turns 69 this weekend.
