PETERSBURG, Alaska — In this tiny fishing town of 3,000 people, everyone knows Dan Sullivan. But not the Dan Sullivan they see on TV ads attacking the incumbent senator. This Dan Sullivan is a retired schoolteacher with a gray beard, a quiet voice, and a stubborn belief that Alaska deserves better.

His problem? He shares his name with the state's Republican senator, Dan Sullivan — and that has made him one of the most controversial figures in the 2026 Alaska Senate race. Accusations have mounted: he's a spoiler, a plant, a cynical tool designed to split the Republican vote and hand the election to a Democrat.

To get to the bottom of it, we flew to Petersburg, a community reachable only by ferry or small plane, and sat down with the man at the center of the storm.

The Accusation

The allegations surfaced after Dan Sullivan (the schoolteacher) filed to run for the U.S. Senate in March. His identical name immediately raised eyebrows. In a normal election, that might be a curiosity. But Alaska uses ranked-choice voting (RCV), a system that allows voters to rank candidates by preference. In RCV, a candidate's presence on the ballot can fundamentally change the outcome — even if he has no chance of winning.

Critics say the second Dan Sullivan is a "decoy candidate" recruited to siphon first-choice votes from the real Republican, forcing the election to multiple rounds and potentially altering the final result. The Alaska Democratic Party has denied any involvement, but suspicion has poisoned the race.

"I've been accused of everything from being a Russian asset to a Democratic pawn," the challenger told us, sipping coffee in his kitchen overlooking the Wrangell Narrows. "I'm just a schoolteacher who thinks his state is heading in the wrong direction."

The Man Behind the Name

Dan Sullivan — the one we met — is 62 years old. He taught environmental science at Petersburg High School for 30 years. He has never run for public office. His political donations, according to federal records, have gone to both Republicans and Democrats over the years, though he voted in Republican primaries. He is, by his own admission, "not a professional politician."

His campaign is shoestring. He has raised $23,000, compared with the incumbent's $4 million war chest. He has no paid staff, no campaign office, and no advertisements. His entire platform is a three-page document on a website he built himself.

Key Facts About the Challenger

• Dan Sullivan, 62, retired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska
• Taught environmental science at Petersburg High School for 30 years
• Has raised $23,000 compared to the incumbent's $4 million
• Platform focuses on fisheries and opposition to transboundary mining

So why run? He cites frustration with the senator's record on fisheries and the transboundary mining dispute with Canada. "The senator hasn't stood up for Southeast Alaska," he said. "He's been a rubber stamp for the party."

A Closer Look at Alaska's Ranked-Choice System

Alaska adopted ranked-choice voting in 2020 through a citizens' initiative. It was used for the first time in the 2022 special election for U.S. House. The system eliminates the lowest-polling candidate and redistributes their votes to voters' second choices until one candidate reaches 50%.

That's where the spoiler theory comes in. In a two-way race, the schoolteacher might get 5-10% of the vote, mostly conservative. If those voters ranked the real Dan Sullivan second, he'd still win. But if the schoolteacher pulls votes from the Democratic candidate? Unlikely, they're both named Dan Sullivan, but some voters might confuse them.

The real danger is in the primary. Under Alaska's "top-four" primary, all candidates compete in one primary, and the top four go to the general election. If two Dan Sullivans are among the top four, that could give Republicans two slots in a ranked-choice general election — potentially diluting the Democratic candidate's chances. But it could also split Republican voters.

What the Experts Say

Political scientists are divided. "There's no evidence that this candidate is a spoiler," said Dr. Jennifer Duffy, a professor of political science at the University of Alaska Anchorage. "But the name similarity is a perfect example of how RCV can be weaponized. It's legal, but it's highly unethical."

Duffy noted that Alaska law allows candidates to use any name on the ballot, as long as it's not intended to confuse voters. But proving intent is difficult. The state Division of Elections has received complaints and has launched a review, but it is unlikely to disqualify him.

We asked the schoolteacher directly: Are you a spoiler?

"I know people think that. I know my name helps me get attention. But I'm running because I believe I can make a difference. If I can force the conversation on issues that matter, that's not sabotage. That's democracy."

The Local Reaction

In Petersburg, residents are split. Many know the schoolteacher personally and respect him. "Dan's the kind of guy who would stop and help you fix your truck," said Mary Long, owner of a local café. "He's not a malicious person. But I worry that he's being used."

Others are more skeptical. "He's a nice guy, but he's delusional if he thinks he can beat the real Dan Sullivan," said Bob Thompson, a commercial fisherman. "And if he costs the Republican the seat, I'll never forgive him."

The incumbent's campaign has not remained silent. In a statement, campaign spokesperson Jenna Wright said: "Senator Sullivan is focused on delivering results for Alaskans. This lookalike candidacy is a distraction, and we urge voters to verify their ballot carefully."

The Bigger Picture

The controversy is not unique to Alaska. Across the country, similar tactics have been employed, often with little accountability. In 2020, a man named Jason Lewis ran in Minnesota's Senate race with the same name as a Democratic candidate, eventually withdrawing. In 2018, a candidate with the same name as a senior senator from Kansas ran to protest the senator, but the opposite effect occurred.

Election law experts say that without clearer rules, ballot confusion will continue. "We need to decide as a society whether we allow this kind of name-game," said Duffy. "The current system is ripe for exploitation."

What Happens Next

The Alaska primary is set for August 18, 2026. The schoolteacher will appear on the ballot as "Dan Sullivan." The senator will also appear as "Dan Sullivan." The state is considering adding a disclaimer, such as "incumbent" next to the senator's name, but that requires a change in law.

For now, the two men share a name, a state, and a desire to defeat each other. We asked the schoolteacher what he'd say to his namesake. He paused. "I would tell him, 'Talk about the issues. Stop hiding behind your party and your money.'"

In a small town in Alaska, a man with a famous name is hoping to turn a coincidence into a movement. But the question remains: is he a genuine candidate, or the ultimate weapon in a political war? The voters of Alaska will decide.