President Donald Trump issued a last-minute warning to Alaska voters Tuesday, urging them to make sure they cast their ballots for incumbent Sen. Dan Sullivan and not a Republican primary challenger who shares the senator’s name.
“ALASKA: Be careful, VOTE FOR THE REAL DAN SULLIVAN TODAY,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Trump praised the two-term Republican senator while accusing Democrats of attempting to confuse voters by putting another Dan Sullivan on the ballot.
“Through me, he’s brought HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BACK TO YOUR STATE. The Dumocrats know how good he is and have put up an imposter of the same name,” Trump wrote.
The president urged Alaskans to vote for the “INCUMBENT SENATOR,” adding, “Don’t let these Fraudsters get away with this HOAX. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump’s Election Day intervention comes as Alaska voters head to the polls in a Senate contest that could play a role in determining the balance of power in Congress.
Incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan is seeking another term, but another candidate named Dan J. Sullivan will also appear on Tuesday’s ballot.
Dan J. Sullivan is a retired fifth-grade teacher who describes himself as a “moderate Republican.”
The unusual situation has sparked accusations from both Trump and the incumbent senator that the challenger is trying to confuse Alaska voters.
Trump previously raised the issue Friday, alleging that Democrats were responsible for the same-name candidate appearing in the race.
“Because of the trickery in the Voting, the Crooked, Radical Left Dumocrats have put up another man named ‘Dan Sullivan,’ and they did this to take Votes away from our Great Senator of the same name,” Trump wrote.
“Democrats are trying to ‘trick’ Alaskans, and treat Alaskan Voters with contempt,” he added.
Alaska Democrats and the campaign of Democratic candidate Mary Peltola have denied having any involvement in Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy.
The challenger has also defended his decision to enter the race.
“I have every right to stand up and do this,” Dan J. Sullivan told the Petersburg Pilot earlier this summer. “It’s my name, my grandfather’s name: Dan Sullivan. My dad’s name: Dan Sullivan.”
His place on the ballot has already survived a legal challenge. The Alaska Supreme Court in June upheld a lower court ruling allowing him to remain a candidate.
The controversy has also resulted in a Justice Department investigation.
Alaska uses a nonpartisan primary system in which the top four candidates advance to the November ranked-choice general election.
That means Tuesday’s unusual contest could potentially result in both candidates named Dan Sullivan advancing to the general election.
For now, Trump is making clear which Sullivan he wants Republican voters to choose, using Election Day to personally warn Alaskans to carefully identify the incumbent senator before casting their ballots.
