DOJ Criminal Investigation Targets Alaska Senate Candidate

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a federal criminal investigation into the candidacy of Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher running for the U.S. Senate in Alaska under a name nearly identical to that of incumbent Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. The probe, which has entered an advanced stage with the issuance of grand jury subpoenas, is examining whether the campaign was a deliberate scheme to confuse voters and influence the outcome of the 2026 election.

The investigation centers on the candidacy of Dan J. Sullivan, also known as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a former U.S. Forest Service employee from Petersburg, Alaska, who is not related to the senator. According to sources familiar with the matter, federal prosecutors are looking into potential wire fraud and whether the alleged conspiracy deprived Alaska voters of a free and fair election, which could constitute a federal civil rights violation. The FBI, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Alaska, and the Alaska Attorney General’s Office are all involved in the examination.

The controversy began shortly before Alaska’s June 1 filing deadline, when Dan J. Sullivan filed to run as a Republican after recently...