Decoy Candidate Causes Stir in Alaska Senate Race

A Democratic strategist has introduced a look-alike candidate that Republicans claim might confuse voters in Alaska’s Senate race. Campaign documents show that Amber Lee, a progressive consultant, issued a press release about a second candidate named Dan Sullivan. Republican strategists say this candidate has no ties to the incumbent Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska.

Nick Puglia, spokesperson for the National Republican Senate Committee, criticized this approach to Fox News Digital: “Mary Peltola and Chuck Schumer know they cannot beat Senator Sullivan on his record, so they resort to misleading political tactics to deceive Alaskans and secure a seat.” Although Republicans have until August to inform voters, the filing illustrates attempts to sway a critical Senate contest.

The campaign website emphasizes the name confusion: “Dan Sullivan challenges Dan Sullivan for the U.S. Senate Seat, urging Alaskans to elect a Sullivan who truly represents them.” The biography of the second Sullivan describes his past in jobs like logging and construction before entering the Senate race due to frustration with government inefficiency.

Despite having an Instagram page with no content and only two followers, the campaign did not address whether Sullivan was recruited to run or filed with the FEC, nor if he plans to run independently. Both Sullivans are part of Alaska’s open primary system, which advances the top four candidates to the general election. If both make it, it could confuse rural Alaskan voters.

This situation gains importance in Alaska’s ranked choice voting system. Voters rank candidates by preference, supporting other choices if their first is eliminated. Such a system raises the influence of candidates who might not be the initial choice.

Although Lee did not comment to Fox News Digital, her history and her firm, Amber Strategies, suggest this is a strategic move rather than an authentic candidacy. Her firm has supported numerous progressive causes. Alaska traditionally leans Republican, but recent elections saw the Democratic Mary Peltola win an at-large district in 2022.

The primary will occur on August 18. Currently, Dan Sullivan, who joined the Senate in 2015 and is Alaska’s former attorney general, is up for re-election after winning with 53.9% of the vote last time. Political analyst Leo Briceno at Fox News Digital has followed this story closely.