A former mayor of Anchorage has endorsed the Republican incumbent in Alaska's US Senate race over a challenger who shares the same name. Dan A Sullivan, who served as mayor from 2009 to 2015, voiced his support for Senator Dan S Sullivan in the general election, which also features Democrat Mary Peltola and another candidate.
Three Dan Sullivans in One Race
Dan J Sullivan emerged from an 18 August primary to join a four-candidate field rounded out by Dan S Sullivan, Peltola and one other contender. His presence in the general election during the 3 November midterms has prompted accusations that he is a Democratic plant aiming to draw enough votes away from Dan S Sullivan – whose name was positioned consecutively to his on the primary ballot – so that Peltola can win.
Dan A Sullivan, who also served on Anchorage's governing assembly from 1999 to 2008, wrote on the day of the primary: "As the OG Dan Sullivan, I urge Alaskans to vote for [Senator] Daniel S Sullivan. He's been great for Alaska." The term "OG" is a colloquial expression meaning original. It was unclear if he staked the claim of being the original because, at 75, he was older than Dan S Sullivan, 61, and Dan J Sullivan, 70, a retired schoolteacher and US Forest Service employee with no prior political experience.
Trump Weighs In on Primary Day
Former President Donald Trump also commented on the primary day, writing on social media: "ALASKA: Be careful. VOTE FOR THE REAL DAN SULLIVAN TODAY. The Dumocrats know how good he is and have put up an imposter of the same name." Trump was not the only Republican politico to come out swinging for Dan S Sullivan's re-election bid on that day, in which Peltola finished first.
The Republican party unsuccessfully went to court to try to prevent Dan J Sullivan from running in the primary, maintaining that his campaign was a Democratic-engineered sham trying to confuse voters into selecting him rather than Alaska's junior US senator since 2015.
Challenger Denies Democratic Role
Dan J Sullivan, who appeared on the primary ballot with no party affiliation, has denied running at the behest of the Democratic party, which has not held a Senate seat in Alaska since 2008. "This is my choice," he said to the Associated Press in June. Adding that he was displeased with the state of affairs in the US, he told the outlet: "I have every right to run."
