Daniel J. Sullivan, a former teacher now embroiled in a federal inquiry regarding Alaska’s closely contested U.S. Senate race, left his isolated hometown of Petersburg shortly before a significant New York Times article. This report suggests that the Democratic Party nominee Mary Peltola’s campaign allegedly sought to enlist him as a distraction for voters.
On October 26, a local resident reported seeing “decoy” Dan Sullivan on a flight to Anchorage. This was just two days prior to the release of the New York Times piece.
A friend characterized Sullivan and his wife as “world travelers,” though his exact whereabouts remain unknown. A number of townspeople, from the roughly 3,000-strong community accessible only by air or sea, informed CBS News that they had yet to receive any campaign-related materials since he announced his candidacy last spring.
A CBS News team found no indications of active campaign efforts outside his home along the primary coastal route. Sullivan, who taught music and fourth and fifth grades for nearly two decades, retired from his position in the local school district in 2021.
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Daniel J. Sullivan, the independent candidate running for Senate in Alaska whose name is almost identical to the Republican senator running for reelection, left his hometown of Petersburg earlier this week, multiple sources confirmed to CBS News.
One resident and former student… pic.twitter.com/m0uDXEksib
— CBS News (@CBSNews) October 30, 2026
This revelation comes amidst heightened scrutiny by both state and federal authorities regarding his candidacy. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has initiated a state investigation following the Times report, instructing the Department of Public Safety to assess if Sullivan’s ballot presence contravenes state laws.
Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Justice has been conducting a criminal probe for several weeks, encompassing subpoenas and requests for preservation of documents related to the electoral race. Subpoenas have been reported for both the Peltola campaign and Sullivan himself.
The DOJ has additionally launched a civil lawsuit aimed at preventing the certification of election results if the incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan loses under circumstances that might confuse voters due to the similar names. As of now, no charges have been brought against any party linked to these inquiries.
Sullivan insists he entered the race as a legitimate candidate driven by frustration with the current officeholder’s performance. He has refuted any claims of collaborating with Peltola’s campaign.
Initially, state election officials removed him from the ballot in June, citing concerns that his candidacy was not made in good faith and posed risks of confusing voters, particularly due to his name and links to the Peltola campaign. However, both the superior court and Alaska Supreme Court later overturned this ruling, allowing him to stay on the ballot.
The New York Times reported on October 28 that various individuals associated with Peltola’s campaign, along with senior aides from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, were involved in efforts to encourage Sullivan and other candidates to enter the race. The initiative, termed a “ballot composition project,” aimed to identify additional Alaskans named Dan Sullivan to potentially run.
One individual highlighted in the report is an operative from Ohio who reportedly reached out to Sullivan and others. Although a former Peltola campaign manager noted that Peltola herself wasn’t directly involved in recruiting candidates, she acknowledged being “definitely aware.” She later attempted to retract her comments, but the Times maintained that her account aligns with other statements and evidence collected.
Despite the allegations, the Peltola campaign has denied any involvement in recruiting candidates and claimed Peltola had no knowledge of Sullivan’s participation, saying she did not aim to mislead voters. Sullivan has similarly denied any association with the campaign’s activities.
