Alaska Senate candidate ‘Decoy’ Dan Sullivan missing on Election Day as Trump alleges ‘criminal act’

Daniel J. Sullivan, an independent Senate candidate from Alaska whose name is almost identical to that of incumbent Republican Senator Dan S. Sullivan, left his hometown of Petersburg and has been missing since early October 2026, according to multiple sources and recent FBI investigations. The FBI began contacting donors of Dan J. Sullivan on Friday, as the federal authorities ramped up their criminal probe into potential deception by the candidate.

The case intensified when a New York Times article alleged that Mary Peltola, the Democratic Senate candidate in Alaska, had recruited Dan J. Sullivan to run as an independent to potentially harm Senator Sullivan's reelection chances. This led to FBI visits to donors and federal officials requesting court orders to isolate certain ballots due to potential voter confusion. As of Election Day 2026, President Trump has accused Dan J. Sullivan of committing a "criminal act," though specific details remain unclear.

The investigation has significant implications for the upcoming election in Alaska, which uses ranked-choice voting, potentially delaying results if there is no clear winner on election night.