Daniel J. Sullivan, the so-called “decoy” US Senate candidate accused of being a liberal plant recruited by allies of Democratic hopeful Mary Peltola, has reportedly left his hometown.
Sullivan, whose name closely resembles that of Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan, reportedly disappeared from Petersburg, the small fishing community where he lives, earlier this week.
A source told CBS she saw the candidate, dubbed “Dan Sullivan 2.0,” board a flight to Anchorage on Monday—just days before a bombshell New York Times report alleged that Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) helped place him in the race to improve the Democrat’s chances.
His ultimate destination remains unknown.
Several Petersburg residents also said they had never received campaign materials, including flyers or yard signs, from the former schoolteacher who has drawn intense national attention.
The development came as US Attorney for the District of Alaska Michael Heyman and Matthew Schlegel, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Anchorage Field Office, told reporters that an investigation into the alleged ballot scheme had been underway for months. They said the New York Times report accelerated the inquiry.
The controversy comes as Peltola’s contest against Republican Senator Dan Sullivan is shaping up to be one of the nation’s closest races—and one that may not be decided on election night.
“Recent reporting has resulted in troubling new revelations,” Heyman said, adding that he had assigned “several attorneys” in his office to the case.
“Decoy” Dan Sullivan, accused of being planted to improve the Democrat’s chances of winning Alaska’s Senate seat, reportedly left his hometown earlier this week—days before the New York Times published its explosive findings
US Attorney for the District of Alaska Michael Heyman said: “Recent reporting has resulted in troubling new revelations”
Democratic candidate Mary Peltola and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee are accused of recruiting a “decoy” Dan Sullivan to strengthen her bid against the incumbent senator with the same name
Heyman confirmed that both a civil lawsuit and a criminal investigation are examining the alleged ballot-sabotage scheme, although he did not identify the specific crime under investigation.
“We will not let anyone or any group undermine this election,” he said. “When credible information comes out, we are committed to pursuing that information to protect voters, and we will act on it. We are acting on it intensely and swiftly.”
Heyman added that the federal government was seeking a preliminary injunction after receiving “new information within the last 24 hours.”
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President Trump’s Justice Department also sent letters to election officials nationwide ordering them to preserve election records or face criminal penalties.
The department confirmed the move in a court filing on Friday, according to documents obtained by Democracy Docket.
The Trump administration has launched an eleventh-hour effort to challenge the outcome of Alaska’s Senate race before voters have even cast their ballots.
The letters, issued by the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, instructed election officials to retain ballots and related records for at least 22 months, as required under a decades-old federal law.
Officials who fail to comply could face up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine, the department warned.
This combination photo shows Trump-backed Republican Senator Dan Sullivan, left, in Palmer, Alaska, on August 17, 2026, alongside another candidate named Dan Sullivan running in Alaska’s Senate race
A sample Alaska election ballot
The Alaska Senate race was thrown into turmoil this week after a bombshell report alleged that Peltola’s campaign had “planted” a candidate sharing her Republican opponent’s name in an effort to boost her chances of winning.
Peltola’s campaign and the DSCC are now the subject of a criminal investigation opened this week by the state’s Republican governor over allegations that they recruited the so-called “Decoy” Dan Sullivan.
Meanwhile, a separate civil case filed by the Justice Department earlier this year is examining whether Alaska could certify the election results if incumbent Dan Sullivan loses.
The Cook Political Report has classified Alaska’s Senate contest as a toss-up, making the race potentially decisive in determining control of Congress.
President Donald Trump previously called for Peltola herself to face prosecution after the allegations emerged. He accused the state of “fraud” and demanded that she and “Decoy” Dan be removed from the ballot.
However, legal experts told Our News Outlet that the civil case—and Trump’s calls for a federal prosecution—are unlikely to move forward.
This is a developing story…
