Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) said Sunday he will accept the outcome of Alaska's 2026 Senate race, even if he loses, a commitment that comes as the Justice Department has pursued legal action that could block certification of the vote should his Democratic challenger prevail.
Appearing on CNN's State of the Union, host Jake Tapper pressed Sullivan on whether he would only respect the result if he won. The senator responded: “No, I'm going to accept the election results.”
Sullivan's pledge follows a Justice Department lawsuit filed last week that seeks to prevent certification of the Senate race if former Rep. Mary Peltola wins. Legal scholars and election experts have widely criticized the suit as lacking legal merit.
The controversy centers on a New York Times report alleging that Peltola's campaign and national Democrats recruited a candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan—sharing the senator's name—to siphon votes in Alaska's ranked-choice system. Sullivan has accused Peltola of being “directly involved” in what he called “ballot-stacking,” and he suggested that federal statutes “would maybe make this about not being legal at all.”
Peltola, her campaign, and national Democrats have denied any wrongdoing. Still, the allegations have triggered multiple investigations, including a federal probe and a separate inquiry by the House Oversight Committee.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Alaska Michael Heyman said the investigation has been underway for months but that federal authorities are now moving “intensely and swiftly” in response to “troubling new revelations” in the Times report.
Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has sent letters to Elisa Rios, Peltola's former campaign manager, and Jerid Kurtz, a Democratic operative, requesting transcribed interviews. Rios is scheduled to testify on Nov. 5, and Kurtz on Nov. 6.
President Trump has also weighed in, saying he would respect Tuesday's midterm results “if they're honest elections,” while calling for both Peltola and the decoy candidate to be removed from Alaska's ballot.
Sullivan's acceptance of the results stands in contrast to other Republicans who have avoided similar commitments in key races. The developments in Alaska are part of a broader pattern of election-related legal battles, and the outcome could have implications for the 2028 presidential field.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has also warned that certification may be delayed amid the ongoing probe, adding further uncertainty to an already contentious race.
