FBI Contacts Alaska Donors Amid Expanding Federal Probe Into Candidate With Same Name
Federal investigators ramped up their scrutiny of a U.S. Senate candidate in Alaska sharing a name with the Republican incumbent on Friday, October 31, 2026, as the FBI began reaching out to local campaign donors regarding potential deception. The widening criminal inquiry centers on a candidate named Dan J. Sullivan who entered a race against incumbent Republican U.S. Dan Sullivan, complicating a high-stakes ranked-choice general election.
An Anchorage-based FBI agent visited a boat dealership in Petersburg, a small fishing community accessible only by air or water where the candidate lives, and left a business card for local contributor Charles Flint. According to reporting by the Associated Press, Flint contributed $500 over the summer to what he viewed as a long-shot campaign, telling reporters he respected the candidate—a teacher and musician—for “throwing his hat in the ring.”
Flint told the AP that the agent asked his son, who works at the dealership, whether Flint felt he had been “misled” about which candidate he was supporting. Flint dismissed the outreach entirely, stating he had no intention of calling the agent back and noting that he does not think there is any confusion. He intends to rank Democrat Mary Peltola first, followed by Dan J. Sullivan.
Surge of Federal Resources and Legal Actions in Anchorage
The FBI’s outreach follows confirmation from federal officials that a criminal probe is underway regarding the candidate. Simultaneously, the U.S. Department of Justice pushed on Friday for a court order to isolate specific Alaska ballots to investigate potential voter confusion ahead of Tuesday’s election.
Alaska U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman briefed reporters in Anchorage, explaining that while the federal investigation has been ongoing for several months, recent reporting by The New York Times indicating that Peltola’s campaign appeared involved in recruiting retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan prompted a significant surge of law enforcement assets to the state.
The unfolding federal activity hits just days before a ranked-choice general election where Peltola, a former congresswoman, faces Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan.
Peltola Strongly Denies Campaign Involvement
At a campaign event held Friday at an Anchorage aviation museum, Peltola pushed back forcefully against the allegations. Addressing a gathering of campaign volunteers, she denied any involvement in any plan to place candidates on the ballot to detract from the incumbent senator.
Peltola called the allegations “garbage” and part of a “smear campaign” designed to suppress voter turnout on the eve of the election, maintaining that she can defeat the incumbent without external maneuvers.
