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By Emma Marsden
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Senator Dan Sullivan’s campaign account on X was temporarily suspended days before Alaska’s closely contested Senate election, after the platform flagged the profile under its rules on inauthentic accounts.
The profile @DanSullivan_AK was taken down on Friday before being restored by Saturday afternoon. X has not publicly explained the decision, and it remains unclear what prompted the suspension.
The incident came amid controversy surrounding another Alaska Senate candidate with the same name. Sullivan is seeking reelection against Democratic challenger Mary Peltola, while independent candidate Dan J. Sullivan is also on the ballot.
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Newsweek contacted Sullivan's campaign and X via email on Sunday for comment.
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Why Was Dan Sullivan’s X Account Suspended?
The Alaska Landmine first reported the suspension on Friday, sharing a message it said Sullivan’s campaign had received from X. The outlet posted on X: "Sen. Dan Sullivan’s (the real one) campaign account on X has been suspended."
The Controversy Surrounding the Two Dan Sullivans
The existence of the two Dans on the ballot has become a major political issue, with Republicans arguing that the additional candidacy could confuse voters and take support away from the incumbent.
The controversy intensified after The New York Times reported on October 28 that people connected to Peltola's campaign, along with Democratic political operatives, had been involved in efforts to recruit candidates with names similar to Sullivan's.
The report described efforts to find people named Dan Sullivan who might enter the race and potentially divert votes from the Republican senator.
Dan J. Sullivan has denied being recruited by Democrats, while Peltola has denied knowledge of or involvement in the effort.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy subsequently ordered an investigation into whether the alleged recruitment effort violated state law. The controversy has also prompted legal action, with the Justice Department filing a lawsuit seeking to prevent Alaska from certifying certain election results if the second Sullivan's candidacy affects the outcome.
The controversy has also raised questions about how candidates will respond to the election outcome. During an interview on CNN, Sen. Sullivan was asked by anchor Jake Tapper whether he would accept the results of the Senate race only if he won.
"Are you only going to accept the election results if you win?" Tapper asked.
"No, I'm going to accept the election results," Sullivan replied.
What Do the Latest Polls Show?
Under Alaska's ranked choice voting system, if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their supporters' ballots are transferred to their next-ranked remaining candidate until one contender secures a majority.
The Alaska Senate contest remains highly competitive, with recent polling showing a close contest between Sullivan and Peltola.
The latest poll conducted by Alaska Survey Research, not ranked on VoteHub, between October 26 and 29 among 1,326 likely voters, showed Peltola leading Sullivan 50.8 percent to 49.2 percent in a ranked choice voting runoff, with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points.
An earlier poll by Data for Progress, ranked B on VoteHub, (October 8–16, margin of error ±4) found Peltola leading Sullivan 51 percent to 49 percent in a simulated ranked-choice final round.
The race has also been classified as a toss-up by both the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections, while Decision Desk and Sabato's Crystal Ball have rated it Lean Democratic, according to Ballotpedia.
What Happens Next?
Despite Sullivan's campaign account being restored, X has not publicly explained why it was suspended or whether any further action will be taken.
The incident comes just days before voters head to the polls on November 3, when Alaska's Senate race will be decided.
With the contest attracting national attention, the episode adds another layer of uncertainty to an already contentious election.
For now, Sullivan's campaign account is back online, but questions remain over what triggered the suspension and whether X will provide a fuller explanation.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Daniel Orton and Trevor Davies
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