NEWYou can now listen to articles!
FIRST ON FOX: A Democratic strategist has deployed a candidate look-alike that Republicans fear may act as a decoy and create confusion around their real nominee.
Campaign material metadata reveals that Amber Lee, a progressive consultant, authored a press release announcing the Senate bid for a second “Dan Sullivan” — a figure Republican strategists say has nothing to do with incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.
“Mary Peltola and Chuck Schumer know they can’t beat Senator Sullivan on his record, so they’re resorting to deceitful political maneuvers that attempt to trick Alaskans and buy a seat,” National Republican Senate Committee Spokesperson Nick Puglia told Digital.
Although Republicans have months to clarify the situation to voters before the state’s primary in August, the filing shows efforts to create confusion to sway a high-stakes Senate race.
FORMER DEM REP. MARY PELTOLA ANNOUNCES U.S. SENATE RUN: “PUT ALASKA FIRST”
Newly-introduced Senate candidate Dan Sullivan, left, pictured alongside Sen. Dan Sullivan, D-Alaska, right. (Sullivan for U.S. Senate; Brandon Bell-Pool/Getty Images)
The campaign website leans into the name overlap.
“Dan Sullivan challenges Dan Sullivan for U.S. Senate Seat, urges Alaskans to defeat incumbent, elect a Sullivan who stands up for Alaska,” it reads.
According to his biography, this second Sullivan spent his early career working blue-collar jobs like logging, construction, bartending and forestry, but decided to enter his bid for Senate after growing frustrated with government mismanagement.
“Over time, he became increasingly frustrated with what he saw as federal inefficiency and a lack of long-term thinking in government,” the biography reads.
The campaign’s Instagram page has no posts and just two followers.
The campaign did not immediately respond to questions if Sullivan had been asked to run, whether the campaign had made filings with the FEC, or if he intends to run as an independent.
Both Sullivans will appear in Alaska’s open primary system, where the top four candidates advance to the general election.
If selected among them, the second Sullivan may appear on the ballot in November — a development that could prove especially confusing to Alaska’s many rural communities.
Despite the comedic nature of the thinly-veiled ploy, the filing is especially relevant in Alaska — one of only two states that have implemented ranked choice voting. The system allows voters to select multiple candidates in order of preference.
Under this model, voters can still apply their vote to a second, sometimes even a third option if their first choice is eliminated from contention.
FORMER TALK RADIO HOST DIALS INTO ALASKA’S RACE FOR GOVERNOR, SAYS ENERGY IS KEY
Former Rep. Mary Peltola, D-Alaska, is running to unseat Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan in the 2026 midterm elections. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)
The system, sometimes called “instant runoff voting,” greatly increases the influence of candidates that may not otherwise be a voter’s first choice.
Although Lee, the Democratic strategist, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Digital, documentation of her political leanings appears to rule out an earnest attempt to campaign for another Senate hopeful who just happens to share the “Dan Sullivan” name.
In addition to being called a backer for Mary Peltoa, Sullivan’s Democratic challenger, by the New York Times, Lee’s consulting firm, Amber Strategies, lists a number of progressive clients, including Alaska Women Ascent.
The group aims to “train women who are pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ rights, pro-union, anti-racist and pro-racial justice” to serve as candidates and volunteers.
In the past, Alaska has historically voted Republican, but recently elected Peltola to its lone, at-large district in 2022.
10 SENATE RACES THAT COULD DECIDE CONTROL OF THE CHAMBER IN THE 2026 MIDTERMS
Sen. Dan Sullivan votes on the Laken Riley Act at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 9, 2025. (Allison Robbert/AFP)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APP
Sullivan, who previously served as Alaska’s attorney general, first came to the Senate in 2015 and last won reelection in a 53.9% to 41.2% victory over nonpartisan challenger Al Gross.
Alaska will hold its primary on August 18.
