FBI visits donors of Alaska’s second Dan Sullivan as Senate inquiry widens
The FBI has begun contacting donors to Dan J. Sullivan, the teacher whose name on Alaska’s US Senate ballot almost matches that of Republican incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan, asking whether they were misled. The Associated Press reported on Saturday, 31 October, that agents had reached donors in Alaska and Massachusetts.
In Petersburg, the fishing town where Sullivan lives, an FBI agent visited a boat dealership and left a business card for Charles Flint, who gave 500 dollars to Sullivan’s campaign. Flint told the Associated Press he has known Sullivan for years. The agent asked Flint’s son whether Flint felt he had been “misled”. Flint said he did not feel misled at all. “Everybody knows who the incumbent is,” he said.
Two agents made a five-minute doorstep visit in Sitka, asking another unnamed donor whether the contribution had gone to the Sullivan intended. The donor called the agents “scrupulously polite” and said the talk was voluntary. In Groton, Massachusetts, Pat Campbell said agents came to her door and told her husband they were investigating fraud in election contributions. “No, we had not been defrauded,” she told the Associated Press.
Alaska’s US Attorney Michael Heyman confirmed on Friday, 30 October, that a criminal investigation into the race has run for months. He said a New York Times report that Peltola’s campaign appeared to be involved in recruiting Sullivan had brought a “significant surge of law enforcement assets” to Alaska. Peltola denies any involvement and, at an Anchorage rally, called the claims “garbage” and part of a “smear campaign”. No charges have been announced.
Why it matters
Alaska’s race could help decide control of the US Senate, and Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, so voters will see two very similar names on the ballot. A federal criminal investigation days before an election is unusual. The donor visits test whether voters or contributors were actually confused; so far, those who have spoken publicly say they were not.
What happens next
Alaskans vote on Tuesday, 3 November. The Justice Department has also asked a federal judge to order Alaska to separate ballots cast for the second Sullivan, a request Alaska has called “disturbing and impossible”. The criminal investigation is expected to continue after election day.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://thebullpost.press/fbi-visits-dan-j-sullivan-donor-in-candidates-hometown-as-alaska-senate-inquiry-widens/ (Associated Press, 31 October 2026)
- https://www.juneauindependent.com/post/juneau-supporter-says-he-s-not-confused-as-fbi-begins-reaching-out-to-dan-j-sullivan-donors (Juneau Independent, 31 October 2026)
- https://electionlawblog.org/2026/fbi-visits-dan-j-sullivan-donor-in-candidates-hometown-as-alaska-senate-inquiry-widens/ (Election Law Blog, 31 October 2026)
