PoliticsDevelopingUpdated 1 hr ago

Alaska Senate ballot lists second Dan Sullivan, amid FEC complaint and voter confusion

Coverage spectrum

Covered by 4 outlets, mostly right-leaning (75%).

7 articles in total, 2 of them opinion. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Image via Daily MailHow images are chosen Report this image

Alaska’s Senate race between Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan and Democrat Mary Peltola includes a second candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, whose name is nearly identical. NewsNation reported that voters interviewed after casting ballots gave different accounts: some said they were not confused, while one said he may have voted for the wrong candidate. Right-leaning outlets report that an FEC complaint alleges the second candidate’s campaign illegally colluded with a dark-money group that ran ads against Sullivan. Breitbart reports that Democrats, including Chuck Schumer, helped boost a third candidate, Gerald Heikes. These allegations are not confirmed in the supplied coverage.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. Editors read every story. How this works

New to Mantle? It shows who is covering each story across the political spectrum, and highlights loaded words. How to read a storyHide the guide

The coverage spectrum counts the outlets covering a story at each of five points. A short or missing segment means that part of the spectrum is mostly quiet.

Governor Loaded verb“slams”It adds drama to what was said. The governor criticized the lawmakers; “slams” makes it sound like a fight.More neutral: criticizes lawmakers over budget delay

Highlights mark words that carry a judgement. Tap one to see why, and what a neutral writer would say. Here it is “criticizes”.

The 5-point spectrum

Far Left
Voices that strongly advocate for progressive policies and systemic change.
Left
Mainstream liberal perspectives focusing on social equality and regulation.
Center
Sources that prioritize neutral reporting and balanced viewpoints.
Right
Mainstream conservative perspectives focusing on market freedom and tradition.
Far Right
Voices that strongly advocate for conservative values and limited government.

How we measure bias

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

A second candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan, with a name nearly identical to the incumbent’s, is on the Alaska Senate ballot.
Reported byCenter1Right1Far Right4See the outletsHide the outlets
Center
NewsNation
Right
Daily Mail
Far Right
The Federalist, Breitbart News, Townhall, RedState
Voters interviewed after casting ballots gave different accounts of whether they were confused by the two Dan Sullivans.
Reported byCenter1Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
Center
NewsNation
Right
Daily Mail
An FEC complaint alleges the second candidate’s campaign illegally colluded with a dark-money group that ran ads against Sullivan.
One outletThe Federalist· Far Right
A report alleges Democrats, with help from Chuck Schumer, boosted a third candidate, Gerald Heikes, in the race.
One outletBreitbart News· Far Right

How each side tells it

Compare views

Center and right coverage both report a second Dan Sullivan on the Alaska ballot and voters’ mixed reactions to it. Right-leaning outlets go further, alleging Democratic or Democrat-linked involvement in the ballot move, while the center coverage focuses on what voters said.

the left
No coverage yet
No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.
the center
1 outlet
Headline centers on what voters said, that they were not confused by the two Dan Sullivans, rather than on allegations of a scheme.
Alaska voters say they weren’t confused about 2 Dan Sullivans on ballot
NewsNationCenterAll center headlines
the right
3 outlets · 2 opinion
Headlines call it a Decoy Dan scandal or Democrat ballot operation, with far-right outlets asserting Democratic collusion, and the Daily Mail calling it a Democrat ballot scheme.
Alaska voter Sensational language“loses it”The phrase suggests the voter lost control, while the excerpt describes him as frustrated and anxious.More neutral: becomes frustratedDisagree with this highlight? after realizing he may have voted for wrong Dan Sullivan amid Absolutist framing“Democrat ballot scheme”The headline presents a contested allegation of a Democratic plot as an established fact.More neutral: amid allegations of a ballot schemeDisagree with this highlight?
Daily MailRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

Left
Has not covered this story.
Center0
No loaded words in its own voice.
Right9
Illegally ColludedBallot Operationfake Dan SullivanFake Dan Sullivan Scandal

In the outlets’ own words

Absolutist framing
Illegally ColludedMore neutral: accused of coordinating with
The headline presents an allegation made in a complaint as an established act of illegal coordination.
Evidence Suggests Alaska’s ‘Decoy Dan’ Illegally Colluded With Democrat Dark-Money Group
Used byThe Federalist (Far Right)
Absolutist framing
Ballot OperationMore neutral: Democrats’ Alaska ballot effort
The headline describes an alleged coordinated effort as an established operation rather than an allegation.
Democrats’ Alaska Ballot Operation Went Beyond ‘Decoy Dan’ Candidate
Used byBreitbart News (Far Right)
Loaded modifier
fake Dan SullivanMore neutral: candidate named Dan Sullivan
Calling the candidate fake presents a contested characterization as fact before the complaint is resolved.
Alaska Democrats have been embroiled in a scandal involving the fake Dan Sullivan they put on the ballot in an alleged effort to fool Alaska voters and tip the…
Used byTownhall (Far Right)
Sensational language
Fake Dan Sullivan ScandalMore neutral: case of a decoy candidate named Dan Sullivan
Calling the candidate fake and the matter a scandal asserts wrongdoing that has not been established.
Mary Peltola Throws Her Campaign Staff Under the Bus Over Fake Dan Sullivan Scandal
Used byTownhall (Far Right)

Show 5 more phrasesShow fewer

Sensational language
scandalMore neutral: matter
Calling the matter a scandal presents an allegation as an established wrongdoing.
We've been reporting on the "Decoy Dan" scandal in regard to the Senate race in Alaska between Democrat nominee Mary Peltola and…
Used byRedState (Far Right)
Partisan shorthand
Decoy DanMore neutral: second candidate named Dan Sullivan
The nickname presumes the second candidate was placed on the ballot as a decoy before that purpose has been established.
Watch: The 'Decoy Dan' Gambit Is Already Confusing Alaska Voters
Used byRedState (Far Right)
Sensational language
GambitMore neutral: ballot listing
The word describes a calculated scheme, which presumes intent that the coverage has not established.
Watch: The 'Decoy Dan' Gambit Is Already Confusing Alaska Voters
Used byRedState (Far Right)
Sensational language
loses itMore neutral: becomes frustrated
The phrase suggests the voter lost control, while the excerpt describes him as frustrated and anxious.
Alaska voter loses it after realizing he may have voted for wrong Dan Sullivan amid Democrat ballot scheme
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Absolutist framing
Democrat ballot schemeMore neutral: amid allegations of a ballot scheme
The headline presents a contested allegation of a Democratic plot as an established fact.
…voter loses it after realizing he may have voted for wrong Dan Sullivan amid Democrat ballot scheme
Used byDaily Mail (Right)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

0 outlets

No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

From the center

1 outlet

Leads with

voters’ own accounts
two similar names on the ballot

See the headline from the centerHide the headlines

NewsNationCenter
Alaska voters say they weren’t confused about 2 Dan Sullivans on ballot
2 hr agoRead at NewsNation (opens in a new tab)

From the right

3 outlets · 2 opinion

Leads with

Democrat ballot scheme
collusion allegations
voter confusion

Leaves out

voters who said they were not confused, reported by NewsNation

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 5 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

Daily MailRight
Alaska voter Sensational language“loses it”The phrase suggests the voter lost control, while the excerpt describes him as frustrated and anxious.More neutral: becomes frustratedDisagree with this highlight? after realizing he may have voted for wrong Dan Sullivan amid Absolutist framing“Democrat ballot scheme”The headline presents a contested allegation of a Democratic plot as an established fact.More neutral: amid allegations of a ballot schemeDisagree with this highlight?
One voter visibly displayed his frustration with the confusing ballot in an interview with News Nation when he was asked after casting his ballot.
1 hr agoRead at Daily Mail (opens in a new tab)
Breitbart NewsFar Right
Exclusive: Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan's Months-Old Claims on Democrat Decoy Candidate Vindicated
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) in June had already called out the Democrat-manufactured plot to confuse voters by having a man with the same name run against him, months before any concrete action was taken to foil the scheme.
1 hr agoRead at Breitbart News (opens in a new tab)
1 more from Breitbart News
- Democrats’ Alaska Ballot Operation Went Beyond ‘Decoy Dan’ Candidate
The FederalistFar Right
Evidence Suggests Alaska’s ‘Decoy Dan’ Absolutist framing“Illegally Colluded”The headline presents an allegation made in a complaint as an established act of illegal coordination.More neutral: accused of coordinating withDisagree with this highlight? With Democrat Dark-Money Group
An FEC complaint alleges that the decoy's campaign illegally colluded with a dark-money group that ran ads against GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan.
12 hr agoRead at The Federalist (opens in a new tab)
RedStateFar RightOpinion
Watch: The 'Partisan shorthand“Decoy Dan”The nickname presumes the second candidate was placed on the ballot as a decoy before that purpose has been established.More neutral: second candidate named Dan SullivanDisagree with this highlight?' Sensational language“Gambit”The word describes a calculated scheme, which presumes intent that the coverage has not established.More neutral: ballot listingDisagree with this highlight? Is Already Confusing Alaska Voters
We've been reporting on the "Decoy Dan" Sensational language“scandal”Calling the matter a scandal presents an allegation as an established wrongdoing.More neutral: matterDisagree with this highlight? in regard to the Senate race in Alaska between Democrat nominee Mary Peltola and Republican incumbent Sen. Daniel S. Sullivan (R-AK)
2 hr agoRead at RedState (opens in a new tab)
TownhallFar RightOpinion
Mary Peltola Throws Her Campaign Staff Under the Bus Over Sensational language“Fake Dan Sullivan Scandal”Calling the candidate fake and the matter a scandal asserts wrongdoing that has not been established.More neutral: case of a decoy candidate named Dan SullivanDisagree with this highlight?
Alaska Democrats have been embroiled in a scandal involving the Loaded modifier“fake Dan Sullivan”Calling the candidate fake presents a contested characterization as fact before the complaint is resolved.More neutral: candidate named Dan SullivanDisagree with this highlight? they put on the ballot in an alleged effort to fool Alaska voters and tip the scales for Mary Peltola in the midterms. …
3 hr agoRead at Townhall (opens in a new tab)

The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

Left
No report yet
From the outlets Mantle follows
Center
9 hr 54 min later
Its first report, Nov 2, 5:32 PM EST
Right
First to report
The Federalist, Nov 2, 7:38 AM EST

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order

The FederalistFar RightNov 2, 7:38 AM EST
Breitbart NewsFar RightNov 2, 12:52 PM EST
NewsNationCenterNov 2, 5:32 PM EST
Daily MailRightNov 2, 7:19 PM EST

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out.

Alaska Senate ballot lists second Dan Sullivan, amid FEC complaint and voter confusion

Coverage spectrum

Key points

Compare views

the left

the center

the right

Language to notice

In the outlets’ own words

Side by side

From the left

From the center

Alaska voters say they weren’t confused about 2 Dan Sullivans on ballot

From the right

Exclusive: Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan's Months-Old Claims on Democrat Decoy Candidate Vindicated

Evidence Suggests Alaska’s ‘Decoy Dan’ Absolutist framing“Illegally Colluded”The headline presents an allegation made in a complaint as an established act of illegal coordination.More neutral: accused of coordinating withDisagree with this highlight? With Democrat Dark-Money Group

Mary Peltola Throws Her Campaign Staff Under the Bus Over Sensational language“Fake Dan Sullivan Scandal”Calling the candidate fake and the matter a scandal asserts wrongdoing that has not been established.More neutral: case of a decoy candidate named Dan SullivanDisagree with this highlight?

How the coverage built up

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