Sullivan and Peltola advance in Alaska Senate primary; federal investigation into same-named candidate underway

Alaska's U.S. Senate race will pit Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan against Democrat Mary Peltola in November, but a federal investigation into a same-named Republican rival candidate is adding unpredictability to what should be a clear race in a state Trump has dominated.

NBC News projects that Sullivan and Peltola will both advance to the general election. Two additional seats remain to be determined from Alaska's unique primary system, in which all candidates compete on a single ballot regardless of party affiliation, with the top four finishers advancing to the November general election, which will be decided by ranked-choice voting.

The investigation centers on Dan J. Sullivan, a former teacher also running as a Republican. State and federal prosecutors are investigating whether his candidacy is part of a conspiracy to confuse voters, according to NBC News reporting. The senator and his GOP allies have argued that Dan J. Sullivan is a Democratic plant; Dan J. Sullivan has denied the allegation. Peltola's campaign has denied any involvement with the second Sullivan's campaign. A federal grand jury issued subpoenas last week to compel information from witnesses related to the Dan J. Sullivan campaign, per a law enforcement official who spoke to NBC News.

Peltola, who became the first Alaska Native to represent the state in Congress when she won a special election in 2022, presents a challenge to the incumbent in a state where Democratic pickups are rare. She won a full term in 2022 but lost re-election in 2024 by 3 percentage points, even as she ran nearly 16,000 votes ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris, according to NBC News. Democrats view the Alaska race as a key part of their strategy to take the Senate majority, as the party attempts to net four seats to take control of the chamber.

Financial data shows competitive strength for Peltola. She has outraised Sullivan, pulling in 18 million dollars to Sullivan's 12 million dollars so far, according to NBC News. As of July 29, Sullivan had 7.3 million dollars to spend compared with Peltola's 4.6 million dollars in the bank. Sullivan, a former Marine first elected in 2014, has touted his work for veterans and the state's fishing industry. Trump has endorsed Sullivan, who has broadly supported his agenda. Sullivan has painted Peltola as too far left for the state, arguing in a recent ad that Peltola is beholden to "Lower 48 liberals." Peltola runs on the mantra "fish, family, freedom" and has centered her campaign on local issues while decrying a "rigged" political system.

Peltola's campaign underwent a staff shake-up, with deputy campaign manager Cheryl Bruce taking over as campaign manager. The former manager, Anton McParland, Peltola's former congressional chief of staff, transitioned into a "new role," according to the campaign. Donald Trump carried Alaska by double digits in each of the last three presidential elections, according to NBC News.