Daniel Scott Sullivan is an American politician, attorney, and Marine Corps veteran who has served as Alaska's junior U.S. senator since 2015. A Republican, he previously served as Alaska Attorney General (2009–2010) and as Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (2010–2013).
Sullivan grew up in the Cleveland, Ohio area and graduated from Culver Academies. He studied economics at Harvard University and later earned joint J.D. and M.S. in Foreign Service degrees from Georgetown University. He served multiple periods on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps and became a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve, deploying again during the 2000s and in 2013.
Before entering elected office, Sullivan worked in private legal practice in Anchorage, served as a White House Fellow, and held senior national security and economic roles in the George W. Bush administration. He was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs in 2006, then later returned to Alaska state government.
In the Senate, Sullivan is generally aligned with Republican leadership on national security, energy development, and fiscal policy, while emphasizing Alaska-specific priorities including fisheries, Arctic strategy, and military force posture. He has supported expanded resource development and has often opposed major federal climate and regulatory initiatives.
Sullivan was first elected in 2014, defeating incumbent Mark Begich, and he won re-election in 2020. He is running again in 2026.
Mainstream Conservative
Caucus Memberships
Committee Assignments
Achievements
- Built a defense-focused Senate profile emphasizing Alaska's strategic Arctic and Indo-Pacific posture.
- Advanced Alaska-centric priorities on fisheries, ports, and coastal infrastructure tied to jobs and supply chains.
- Promoted expanded energy and resource development as core to Alaska's economy, including federal lands access debates.
- Leveraged national security framing on Arctic competition and U.S.–China policy.
- Maintained a “service + security” brand grounded in Marine Corps Reserve experience and state executive roles.
Controversies
- Criticized for hardline stances on environmental regulation and climate policy (including skepticism toward mainstream climate consensus).
- Scrutiny over oil/mining-related political dynamics in Alaska, including debates around projects like Pebble and federal permitting fights.
- Alignment with Trump-era policy priorities has drawn pushback from Alaska Democrats and environmental groups.
- Opposed creation of an independent commission to investigate the January 6 attack (2021), attracting criticism from reform advocates.
- Recurrent friction in Alaska over federal-vs-state control of land, resources, and permitting timelines.
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trident Seafoods | $72,020 | $64,120 | $7,900 |
| RPM International | $70,300 | $65,300 | $5,000 |
| Goldman Sachs | $52,600 | $50,100 | $2,500 |
| Elliott Management | $45,700 | $45,700 | $0 |
| Calfee, Halter & Griswold | $44,800 | $44,800 | $0 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2014 Margin R +2.1%
2020 Margin R +12.7%