Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican, told the Ruthless Podcast on Thursday, July 23, 2026, that he is ready to defeat Democrat Mary Peltola despite what he described as efforts by Senate Democrats to interfere in the state’s key Senate contest this fall.
Sullivan claimed that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and far-left groups have targeted Alaska as pivotal for control of the U.S. Senate. He said these groups began running negative attack ads against him starting in June 2025 but, seeing limited success, allegedly resorted to recruiting another candidate named Dan Sullivan, described as a far-left progressive retiree, to confuse voters.
"They recruit this guy; he's a far-left progressive, far left," Sullivan said. Podcast co-host Josh Holmes elaborated on the alleged tactic, stating, "[The Democrats can’t beat Dan Sullivan] so what they've tried to do is get somebody with a Dan Sullivan on the ballot line that they confuse enough people," even if it means siphoning just two to five percent of votes to make the race competitive.
Mary Peltola, the leading Democratic primary candidate, previously served in the House of Representatives following a special election after Don Young’s passing.
Sullivan expressed confidence that the alleged Democratic strategy will backfire.
The race has drawn national attention due to its potential impact on Senate control and the unusual tactic of recruiting a namesake candidate.
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