Sullivan, Peltola Advance to Alaska Senate Race Amid Ballot Confusion

Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola will advance to Alaska's November Senate election, NBC News projects, though the final two spots in the state's unique top-four primary remain undetermined.

The race carries added intrigue because a third candidate, a former teacher also named Dan J. Sullivan, is running as a Republican on the same primary ballot. The senator and his allies have accused the second Sullivan of being a Democratic plant meant to siphon votes and confuse voters — an allegation both he and Peltola's campaign have denied.

A law enforcement official told NBC News that a federal grand jury issued subpoenas last week seeking information from witnesses connected to Dan J. Sullivan's campaign, as state and federal prosecutors investigate whether his candidacy is part of a coordinated effort to mislead voters.

Democrats have targeted Alaska as a potential pickup as they try to net four seats to flip the Senate, even though Donald Trump carried the state by double digits in the last three presidential elections. Peltola, a former state legislator and city councilwoman, became the first Alaska Native to represent the state in Congress after winning a 2022 special election. She won a full term that year but lost re-election in 2024 by 3 percentage points, despite running roughly 16,000 votes ahead of then-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Campaigning on "fish, family, freedom," Peltola has focused on local issues and criticized what she calls a "rigged" political system. She has outraised Sullivan, $18 million to $12 million, though heavy spending has left her with $4.6 million on hand as of July 29, compared with Sullivan's $7.3 million.

Sullivan, a former Marine first elected in 2014 and endorsed by Trump, has cast Peltola as too liberal for Alaska, saying in a recent ad that she answers to "Lower 48 liberals." He has emphasized his work on veterans' issues and the state's fishing industry.

Peltola's campaign recently reshuffled its leadership, with deputy manager Cheryl Bruce taking over as campaign manager from Anton McParland, who moved into a new role. The campaign did not respond to questions about the change.