The “other Dan Sullivan” controversy just exploded into a full-blown federal grand jury investigation.
The Justice Department has issued grand jury subpoenas as investigators examine whether Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., the Democrat-friendly Alaska candidate running against Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, entered the race to confuse voters and divert support from the incumbent.
The Department of Justice is examining whether the retired Petersburg teacher entered the race specifically to confuse voters, siphon support from the incumbent Republican, and boost Democrat Mary Peltola in Alaska’s ranked-choice system.
Potential charges under review include wire fraud and conspiracy to deprive Alaskans of a free and fair election process, a civil rights violation.
The subpoenas, first reported by NBC News and confirmed by Reuters, compel information from witnesses linked to Dan J. Sullivan’s operation.
The former teacher, who registered as a Republican only days before filing, has denied any intent to mislead voters. Critics call those denials laughable.
Dan J. Sullivan filed for the U.S. Senate seat just before the June deadline. Almost immediately, Republican officials and the National Republican Senatorial Committee flagged him as a “sham candidate.” Evidence piled up fast:
- He had no prior Republican affiliation and switched parties right before launching.
- He initially requested to appear on the ballot as “Dan S. Sullivan” — matching the incumbent’s middle initial — before correcting to “Dan J.”
- His campaign website used a color scheme and design strikingly similar to Sen. Dan Sullivan’s.
- He worked with a progressive consultant who had previously supported Democrat Mary Peltola.
Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher decertified him in mid-June, ruling the candidacy was “filed with a purpose to confuse or mislead” voters and compromise the ballot’s fairness.
State courts later reversed that decision, ruling election officials lacked authority to judge “good faith” beyond constitutional qualifications of age, citizenship, and residency. The Alaska Supreme Court upheld putting him back on the ballot.
Hellbound and Down 