Son of Alaska’s ‘Decoy’ Dan Sullivan works for Dem Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez

Noah Casey Sullivan, the son of retired Petersburg teacher Dan J. Sullivan, serves as a field representative for Gluesenkamp Perez, whose district covers southwestern Washington. Congressional salary records list Noah Sullivan working in that position during 2025 and 2026.

Gluesenkamp Perez and Peltola served together as Blue Dog Coalition co-chairs during the 118th Congress.

The employment connection comes amid broader scrutiny of whether Democratic operatives helped put a second Sullivan on Alaska’s ballot to confuse voters and benefit Democratic challenger Peltola.

Dan J. Sullivan entered the race as a Republican in May, challenging the incumbent, Dan S. Sullivan. Republicans questioned his party affiliation, previous contributions to Democrats, and campaign materials they alleged resembled the senator’s branding. Donation records cited in a National Republican Senatorial Committee letter identified $650 in contributions to Democratic candidates between 2010 and 2025.

The challenger also received assistance launching his campaign from political consultant Amber Lee, who has supported Peltola and worked with Democratic candidates. The Petersburg Pilot reported that Lee helped prepare his announcement and website. Sullivan said he found her business through an online search.

Sen. Sullivan has accused the challenger of deliberately exploiting their shared name.

“His whole purpose of running is to confuse Alaskans, to make them think – Alaskan voters – that somehow he’s me, so they could rig the vote in favor of Mary Peltola,” he said in an interview with CNN.

“This is just corruption. They’re trying to cheat. I mean, there’s no plausible explanation.”

The Petersburg candidate has defended his candidacy, telling the Anchorage Daily News: “I have done nothing that should prevent me from running in this race. I filed correctly. I paid my fees. I’m not quite sure what the stink is, but I guess I’ll find out.”

Alaska election officials initially removed him from the ballot after determining that his candidacy was not filed in good faith. The Alaska Supreme Court upheld his eligibility in June, ruling that officials could not impose additional qualifications beyond those established by the US Constitution.

The dispute escalated this week after a New York Times investigation reported that Peltola campaign aides and Democratic operatives participated in efforts to recruit a candidate sharing the incumbent’s name. NBC News reported that federal investigators issued at least three dozen new subpoenas and document preservation requests, including to the Peltola and Dan J. Sullivan campaigns. Gov. Mike Dunleavy also ordered a state investigation.

Roughly 58,000 Alaskans had already voted when the recruitment report emerged, according to Fox News.

Peltola initially dismissed the reporting as “just another distraction” intended to “sell newspapers.”

Peltola denied knowing about the recruitment effort at a campaign event Thursday. Dan J. Sullivan has also denied running at Democrats’ direction or having contact with her campaign.

Separately, the Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit on October 22 seeking to delay certification if the incumbent loses, and votes cast for the other Sullivan could have changed the outcome, pending an investigation into whether voters were confused. Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sought dismissal, arguing that the National Voter Registration Act governs voter registration rather than candidate listings or ballot design. Alaska officials also asked the court to dismiss the case.

Federal prosecutors confirmed Friday that a criminal investigation is underway. US Attorney Michael Heyman said the investigation had been underway for several months and that this week’s revelations prompted a “significant surge of law enforcement assets to Alaska.” He encouraged anyone with relevant information to contact investigators.