Trump targets Alaska Senate race

President Donald Trump accused Democrats of attempting to steal the Alaska U.S. Senate seat by placing a lookalike candidate on the ballot.

In a post on Truth Social on Oct. 28, the president argued that voters would be confused by the presence of Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr., a resident of Petersburg. This candidate shares the same first and last name as the incumbent, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan. Trump stated that the "Dumocrats" are using this "FAKE" candidate to lose votes, noting that people would struggle to distinguish between the two.

The race is tightly contested, and both conservative and liberal observers believe the additional candidate benefits Mary Peltola. Because the margins are so thin, even a small percentage of votes diverted to the Petersburg resident could shift the outcome. The incumbent, who is listed as Dan S. Sullivan and registered as a Republican, faces a ranked-choice election on Nov. 3 where voters rank their preferences.

Trump gave his "Complete and Total Endorsement" to the incumbent for re-election. He described Sen. Sullivan as a "GREAT man" who has delivered for Alaska, a state Trump claimed he won by large margins in 2016, 2020, and 2024. The president highlighted Sullivan’s role in securing 11 new Arctic Security Cutter Icebreakers, the first such ships purchased in over 40 years, as well as various pipeline and economic development projects.

The federal Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Oct. 22 to prevent the certification of results if voter confusion from the "Decoy Dan" candidate affects the outcome. The administration argues that the presence of the Petersburg resident creates a risk of ballot errors that could determine the winner. The suit seeks to clarify how votes cast for the similarly named candidate should be handled.

Trump also cited Sullivan’s support for growing the economy, lowering taxes, and cutting regulations. He praised the senator for securing a secure border, championing military and veterans’ interests, and unleashing American energy dominance. The president emphasized that Sullivan has been with him "all the way" in these policy areas, including the defense of the Second Amendment.

The controversy centers on the potential for administrative errors in a ranked-choice voting system. With the two candidates sharing identical surnames and given names, the election officials must distinguish between the incumbent and the challenger from Petersburg. The outcome of the Nov. 3 election will determine who holds the U.S. Senate seat for Alaska.