Alaska voters face a Senate ballot with two candidates named Sullivan on Tuesday, adding a potential source of confusion to a race that could help determine control of the chamber. The contest is also drawing attention to the state's ranked choice voting system, which could leave the outcome unsettled for weeks if no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes.
The four candidates are Republican incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, former teacher Daniel J. Sullivan, Republican Gerald Heikes and Democrat Mary Peltola. The incumbent is serving his second term, is a Marine veteran and worked at the State Department under President George W. Bush. His principal challenger, Peltola, became the first Democrat in 50 years to represent Alaska in the House when she won in 2022.
Alaska first used its new election system in 2022. A nonpartisan primary sends the four leading candidates to the general election, where voters can rank as many or as few contenders as they wish. The system was intended to curb polarization by replacing party primaries. A candidate wins outright by receiving more than 50% of first-choice votes.
If nobody clears that threshold, the candidate with the fewest votes is removed from contention, and ballots supporting that candidate are reassigned according to voters' next choices. Further rounds follow until a candidate has a majority. Peltola won through this process in the 2022 House special election, with results arriving 15 days after Election Day. In her subsequent campaign for a full term that year, her support rose from 48.8% in the initial count to 55% in the second round.
Daniel J. Sullivan announced his challenge in June, setting off an unsuccessful attempt to keep him off the ballot. After a summer court battle over his primary eligibility, Alaska's supreme court allowed his candidacy to proceed and instructed the Division of Elections to decide how to list him. In the August primary, Peltola received 49.5%, the incumbent Sullivan took 41.4% and Daniel J. Sullivan received 2.5%.
The general election sample ballot identifies the senator as Dan S. Sullivan and includes his Republican registration and incumbent status. Daniel J. Sullivan appears without additional identifiers. Concern about confusion between the names has also prompted federal litigation.
Late last month, the Trump administration sued to prevent Alaska officials from certifying the Senate result if the incumbent lost to Peltola. A federal judge rejected the suit on Sunday, finding that the federal government lacked the legal right to bring it. The Justice Department said it would appeal.
The New York Times reported last week that political operatives aligned with Peltola's campaign had secretly helped recruit Daniel J. Sullivan in an effort to draw votes away from the senator. Peltola has denied involvement in the alleged effort.
Alaska's geography, remote communities and mail ballot deadlines can extend counting. The state accepts mail ballots received 10 days after Election Day, or 15 days in some circumstances. Ranked choice tabulation starts after the final ballot count 15 days after the election. Officials are aiming to certify results on Nov. 25, while experts have urged patience as the Senate contest unfolds.
