Alaska GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan is planning legal action to prevent another Dan Sullivan who filed to run against him from appearing on the ballot, calling it a Democrat-led ploy to confuse voters.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, the two-term incumbent, said the other Mr. Sullivan is a “liberal Democrat” who changed his party registration to Republican just before he filed to run for Senate on Friday.
He believes his name twin was likely recruited by national Democrats or their preferred candidate in the race, former Rep. Mary Peltola.
“The Democrats, [Senate Minority Leader Charles E.] Schumer, they’ve been pounding me for over a year with money. And now they realize they can’t beat me, so they’re gonna cheat,” Sen. Dan Sullivan said. “This is really bad.”
The incumbent said the metadata from his challenger’s campaign announcement shows it originated from a Democratic consultant and Peltola supporter named Amber Lee.
“You have the right to run for office, of course, but you don’t have the right legally if your primary goal is to confuse people and rig the election for another candidate,” Sen. Dan Sullivan said. “This guy’s primary purpose is to confuse Alaskans and rig the election for my real opponent, which is Mary Peltola.”
The Washington Times reached out to Ms. Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee for comment.
The incumbent said challenger Dan Sullivan not only copied his party affiliation but his campaign logo, using the same font, white and yellow typeface, dark blue background and a star.
The senators’ logo has multiple stars and uses the typeface colors in different spots, but the other Mr. Sullivan’s logo is a pretty clear attempt to mirror his without directly copying it.
The Times reached out to the challenger Mr. Sullivan’s campaign for comment. His Friday announcement does not address his party affiliation but makes clear his goal is to unseat the incumbent.
“For too long, Senator Sullivan has failed to put Alaska first. When you truly care about a people and a place, you have a duty to make every sacrifice within your power to protect them. That’s why I’m running,” said Mr. Sullivan, an elementary school teacher.
“It’s time for Alaska to elect a Sullivan that’s on their side,” he said.
Sen. Dan Sullivan said his challenger has received campaign donations from Ms. Peltola and “every far-left group imaginable.”
“Everybody in Alaska knows this is a scam, that it is a sham candidacy,” he said, saying Senate Democrats should demand the other Mr. Sullivan exit the race if they were not involved in recruiting him.
