President Donald Trump has become “obsessed” with the case of two men with the same name running for the same U.S. Senate seat in Alaska, according to CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins.
On Friday’s episode of The Source With Kaitlan Collins, the namesake host noted how Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan isn’t just battling Democrat challenger Mary Peltola but also one Daniel J. Sullivan.
“Now there are two men named Dan Sullivan, as the president noted,” Collins said, per Mediaite. “They’re running for senate in Alaska. Senator Dan Sullivan is President Trump’s Republican pick, Dan J. Sullivan is a former fifth grade teacher.”
As Collins reported, Trump’s Justice Department is suing to block Alaska from certifying a Peltola win if Daniel J. Sullivan remains on the ballot. As the Associated Press reported on Friday, Republicans worry that Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher with no party affiliation, could take votes away from Sen. Dan S. Sullivan in what seems like a neck-and-neck race between the latter and Peltola.
The Alaska Supreme Court, however, ruled that both Sullivans can remain on the ballot, with the senator identified both as the incumbent and a registered Republican.
“Also, because Alaska has ranked choice voting, it’s not an either/or choice for voters here,’ Collins pointed out. “They’ll put in order the candidates that they believe would best represent them.”
She went on: “But I’m told that the president has been personally obsessed with this saga, and it has become a staple talking point during his rallies.”
Trump and Collins have a long, storied history — mostly one of antagonism on the president’s side. In a Truth Social rant last month, Trump called Collins a “very dumb and unhappy Fake News CNN ‘reporter,” with “really low ratings.”
Earlier this month, Collins seemingly referenced one of Trump’s other name-calling episodes as she toted an “America Needs Nasty Women” mug on air.