Republican Senator Dan S Sullivan will be joined on the November 2026 ballot in Alaska by another Republican candidate named Dan J Sullivan, a retired school teacher and US Forest Service employee, election officials confirmed. This unusual situation has added a twist to what is expected to be one of the most hotly contested races of the midterm elections.

Senator Sullivan is running for a third term against Democrat Mary Peltola, a former US House representative. Polls indicate the race is neck-and-neck in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 2008.

Alaska's nonpartisan primary system advances the top four vote-getters to the general election. With 85% of ballots counted, Dan J Sullivan secured 2.5% of the vote, significantly less than the nearly 43% won by Senator Sullivan and over 48% by Peltola. The two Dan Sullivans appeared next to each other on the primary ballot among 16 candidates; the incumbent was identified as "registered Republican" and "incumbent," while the challenger was unadorned.

Earlier this year, the incumbent senator condemned Dan J Sullivan as a "sham" candidate allegedly running at the behest of Democrats to confuse Republican voters and split the vote. In June, Alaska election officials disqualified Dan J Sullivan from the election, but the state supreme court ordered his reinstatement.

Alaska uses ranked-choice voting for congressional general elections, allowing voters to rank candidates. This system may help voters who are confused by the similar names to support Senator Sullivan effectively.

Beyond Alaska, Democratic leaders are targeting Senate seats held by Republicans in North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, and Iowa, all states that voted for Donald Trump in 2024.

Sources