Dan Sullivan (U.S. senator)

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Not to be confused with Dan Sullivan (Anchorage mayor).
Dan Sullivan
Senator Dan Sullivan official.jpg
Official portrait, 2015
United States Senator
from Alaska
Assumed office
January 3, 2015
Serving with Lisa Murkowski
Preceded by Mark Begich
Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources
In office
December 6, 2010 – September 24, 2013
Governor Sean Parnell
Preceded by Thomas E. Irwin
Succeeded by Joseph Balash
27th Attorney General of Alaska
In office
June 17, 2009 – November 30, 2010
Governor Sarah Palin
Sean Parnell
Preceded by Talis J. Colberg
Succeeded by John J. Burns
Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs
In office
June 6, 2006 – January 1, 2009
President George W. Bush
Preceded by Earl Anthony Wayne
Succeeded by Jose W. Fernandez
Personal details
Born Daniel Scott Sullivan
(1964-11-13) November 13, 1964 (age 60)
Fairview Park, Ohio, U.S.
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Julie Fate (m. 1994)
Relations Hugh Fate (father-in-law)
Mary Jane Fate (mother-in-law)
Children 3
Education Harvard University (AB)
Georgetown University (MS, JD)
Website Senate website
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1993–1997 (Active)
1997–present (Reserve)
Rank US-O6 insignia.svg Colonel (Reserve)
Unit United States Marine Corps Reserve
Commands 6th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company
Battles/wars War in Afghanistan
Awards Defense Meritorious Service Medal.jpg Defense Meritorious Service Medal

Daniel Scott Sullivan (born November 13, 1964) is an American politician and attorney serving as the junior United States senator for Alaska since 2015. He is a member of the Republican Party.

Sullivan was in active duty for the United States Marine Corps from 1993 to 1997, 2004 to 2006, and in 2009 and 2013. Between 1997 and 1999, he clerked for judges on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Alaska Supreme Court. After working as an attorney in private practice in Anchorage, Alaska from 2000 to 2002, Sullivan moved to Maryland to work for the Bush administration; he worked with the National Economic Council and the National Security Council and later served as Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs. He was Alaska Attorney General from 2009 to 2010 and commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources from 2010 to 2013.

Sullivan ran in the 2014 election for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democratic incumbent Mark Begich. In August 2014, he won the Republican primary, defeating Alaska Lieutenant Governor Mead Treadwell and 2010 Senate nominee Joe Miller. Sullivan defeated Begich in the general election, 47.96% to 45.83%, a margin of 6,014 votes out of 282,400 cast. He was reelected in 2020, defeating independent challenger Al Gross by about 13 percentage points.[1]

Early life and education

Sullivan was born and raised in Fairview Park, Ohio, the son of Sandra (née Simmons) and Thomas C. Sullivan,[citation needed] now the president and CEO of RPM International, a holding company founded by his father, Frank C. Sullivan.[2] He graduated from Culver Military Academy in Indiana in 1983.

Sullivan studied economics at Harvard University, graduating in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude. In 1993, he earned joint J.D. and M.S.F.S. degrees cum laude from Georgetown University. He was a member of the Georgetown Law Journal and interned for the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.[3]

Early career

Military service

Sullivan has served in the United States Marine Corps since 1993, both on active duty and in the reserves. Sullivan, who has spent several years with a reconnaissance battalion based in Anchorage, initially left active duty in 1997 when he first moved to Alaska, but has since been recalled to active duty three times: from 2004 to 2006, again in early 2009, and for a six-week tour in Afghanistan in July 2013.[4] In 2011 he was recommended for promotion to lieutenant colonel by then-retired General John Abizaid, a board member of the Sullivan family-based RPM International corporation since 2008. Sullivan is now a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He is a recipient of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.[5]

Early legal career

Sullivan served as a judicial law clerk for Judge Andrew Kleinfeld of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Fairbanks from 1997 to 1998. He then clerked for Chief Justice Warren Matthews of the Alaska Supreme Court in Anchorage in 1998–99.[6] In 2000, Sullivan joined the Anchorage office of the Perkins Coie law firm, focusing on commercial law and corporate law. He joined the Alaska bar that same year.[6]

White House and State Department

In 2002, Sullivan headed the International Economics Directorate of the National Economic Council and National Security Council staffs at the White House. He advised President George W. Bush and the National Security Advisor and NEC chairman. He left the White House in 2004.[5]

In 2006, Bush appointed Sullivan United States Assistant Secretary of State for Economic, Energy, and Business Affairs. The United States Senate unanimously confirmed Sullivan in May of that year. He served in this capacity until January 2009. While serving as Assistant Secretary of State he owned a house in Anchorage and continued to vote in Alaska elections by absentee ballot, while claiming Bethesda, Maryland, as his primary residence for tax purposes.[7][8]

Alaska Attorney General

Alaska Attorney General Talis Colberg resigned in February 2009 over the Alaska Public Safety Commissioner dismissal scandal. Governor Sarah Palin nominated Wayne Anthony Ross for attorney general, but the Alaska Legislature rejected Ross. Palin then nominated Sullivan.[9] He was sworn into office in June 2009, while the Alaska Legislature was out of session. The Alaska Legislature unanimously confirmed Sullivan's appointment on April 9, 2010.[10] Sullivan, who had been retained by Governor Sean Parnell, stepped down as attorney general on December 5, 2010, to be replaced by John J. Burns.[11][12]

Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources

On November 18, 2010, shortly after being elected, Alaska Governor Sean Parnell appointed Sullivan Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, replacing former Commissioner Thomas E. Irwin. In 2013, during his term in office, Sullivan was deployed to Afghanistan for six weeks, in his role as the executive officer of the 4th Marine Division's Anti-Terrorism Battalion.[13]

U.S. Senate

Elections

2014

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Main article: 2014 United States Senate election in Alaska
File:Sullivan (15373065277).jpg
Bumper sticker from Sullivan's Senate campaign

On October 15, 2013, Sullivan announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democratic incumbent Mark Begich in the 2014 election.[14] He was endorsed by the Club for Growth.[15]

On June 10, 2014, Sullivan offered Begich the Alaska Agreement.[16] This was a modified version of the People's Pledge. This tactic had previously been used in the Massachusetts 2012 U.S. Senate race between Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown to drastically limit outside, third-party spending.[16] Begich rejected the agreement.[16] According to Ballotpedia, outside spending in the race hit nearly $40 million.[17]

Despite Sarah Palin's late-race endorsement of 2010 party nominee Joe Miller, Sullivan won the August 19 Republican primary with 40% of the vote to and Miller's 32% and Treadwell's 25%.[18][19]

On November 12, 2014, the Associated Press[20] and CNN[21] declared that Sullivan had defeated Begich in the general election by about 8,000 votes—48.6 to 45.4 percent. At the time, there were approximately 31,000 votes left to count and Begich refused to concede.[22] Begich conceded on November 17.[23] Final results showed that Sullivan defeated Begich 47.96% to 45.83%, a margin of 6,014 votes out of 282,400 cast.[24][25]

2020

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Main article: 2020 United States Senate election in Alaska

In the 2020 election, after running unopposed in the Republican primary election, Sullivan faced independent candidate Al Gross, an orthopedic surgeon and former commercial fisherman who had been nominated by the Alaska Democratic Party. The race was considered "unexpectedly close," with some polls indicating that the two candidates were neck-and-neck.[26] Gross touted his "deep roots" in the state and published several campaign videos that received national attention.[27] In addition to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee's funding of Gross's candidacy, Gross reportedly did "an excellent job fundraising", outraising Sullivan between July 1 and the end of September 2019.[28]

While the race was considered "too early to call" for several days after the November 3 election, Gross called Sullivan to concede on November 13.[29] Ultimately, Sullivan defeated Gross 54% to 41%, with Alaskan Independence Party nominee John Howe receiving nearly 5% of the vote.[30]

Tenure

Sullivan was sworn into office on January 6, 2015, by Vice President Joe Biden.

Committee assignments

File:U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Senators Joni Ernst, Daniel Sullivan, John McCain, Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham, and Cory Gardner attending the 2016 International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia Security Summit in Singapore.jpg
U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter and Senators Joni Ernst, Dan Sullivan, John McCain, Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham, and Cory Gardner attending the 2016 International Institute for Strategic Studies Asia Security Summit in Singapore

[31]

Caucuses

Political positions

According to FiveThirtyEight, Sullivan voted in line with President Donald Trump's position 91.5% of the time.[32] According to the American Conservative Union's Center for Legislative Accountability, Sullivan had a lifetime conservative rating of 79.5.[33] Americans for Democratic Action gave Sullivan a zero on their liberalism score in 2019.[34]

Donald Trump

Sullivan opposed Trump during the 2016 presidential race, releasing a statement that said, "We need national leaders who can lead by example" on issues of sexual assault and violence against women. Sullivan added, "The reprehensible revelations about Donald Trump have shown that he can't. Therefore, I am withdrawing my support for his candidacy."[35]

Sullivan voted to acquit Trump at the conclusion of his first impeachment trial.[36][37] During Sullivan's reelection bid, Trump endorsed him, saying Sullivan supported Trump's agenda.[38]

By October 6, 2020, Sullivan announced that he would be voting for Trump, saying the choice was "very clear."[39] Sullivan also voted to acquit Trump during his second impeachment trial.[40]

Environment

Sullivan rejects that there is a scientific consensus on climate change.[41][42] He has argued that "the verdict is still out on the human contribution to climate change"; the scientific consensus is that human activity is a primary contributor to climate change.[42]

In October 2020, the Environmental Investigation Agency recorded and published conversations between undercover actors, who pretended to be potential investors in Pebble Mine in Alaska, and corporate executives. In these recordings, the corporate executives make clear that they intend to expand the mine far beyond previously stated intentions, and that they believe Sullivan would quietly support this project after the election. In response, Sullivan expressed his opposition to the project.[43][44] Sullivan has stated that he plans to donate campaign contributions received from Pebble Mine executives to charity.[45]

Sullivan has lobbied the Trump administration to open up the Tongass National Forest in Alaska to logging and other forms of development.[46][47] In October 2020, the Trump administration permitted such projects, stripping protections that had been in place for nearly two decades.[47]

Foreign policy

In July 2017, Sullivan co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (s. 720), which made it a federal crime for Americans to encourage or participate in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements in the occupied territories if protesting actions by the Israeli government.[48][49]

File:Dan Sullivan with NRA in Alaska - 2019.jpg
Dan Sullivan receiving a commemorative gun during a National Rifle Association event in Alaska.

On June 6, 2021, Sullivan and Senators Tammy Duckworth and Christopher Coons visited Taipei in an U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport to meet President Tsai Ing-wen and Minister Joseph Wu during the pandemic outbreak of Taiwan to announce President Joe Biden's donation plan of 750,000 COVID-19 vaccines included in the global COVAX program.[50][51][52]

Gun policy

In the 2014 Senate campaign in Alaska, the National Rifle Association (NRA) declined to make an endorsement. The NRA gave Begich an "A-" rating and Sullivan an "A-q" rating, the "q" indicating the rating was qualified because Sullivan had no voting record at the time.[53]

Health care and public health

Sullivan opposes the Affordable Care Act and voted to repeal it.[54][55][56]

On November 17, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sullivan did not wear a mask while presiding over the Senate. Senator Sherrod Brown asked him to "please wear a mask as he speaks." Sullivan told Brown he was not taking instructions from Brown and later called Brown a "far-left senator." Senator Ted Cruz called Brown an "ass" for making the request and suggested it was virtue signaling.[57][58] CDC guidelines at the time stated that people should wear face masks while indoors.[58][59]

Judiciary

In 2016, Sullivan defended the Republican refusal to hold a hearing for President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland, on the basis that the nomination was made "in the midst of an important national election." Sullivan said it was not "about the individual, it's about the principle" and "Alaskans deserve to have a voice in that direction through their vote, and we will ensure that they have one."[60][61] In October 2020, in the last few weeks before the 2020 presidential election, Sullivan defended Trump's decision to nominate a Supreme Court justice—saying he was "well within his constitutional authority"—and voted to confirm the nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.[60][61][62]

Missile defense system

In 2017, after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened the United States with an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) strike and conducted an ICBM test in which its missile landed about 200 miles (320 km) off the coast of Japan, Sullivan called for improvements to the U.S. missile defense system.[63]

Social policy

Sullivan has not made social issues a major part of his platform.[64] He opposes abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, or threat to the life of the mother.[65] He opposes same-sex marriage.[65]

Sullivan introduced the bipartisan criminal justice reform legislation, the FIRST STEP Act, but opposed the act after incurring amendments by the House of Representatives. The amended bill passed the Senate 87–12 on December 18, 2018.[66] Trump signed the bill into law 3 days later.

Sullivan has cosponsored the bipartisan STATES Act proposed in the 115th U.S. Congress by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Colorado Senator Cory Gardner that would exempt individuals or corporations in compliance with state cannabis laws from federal enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act.[67]

2021 National Defense Authorization Act

In December 2020, during his lame-duck period, Trump vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.[68] The veto left new Coast Guard cutters that were scheduled to be homeported in Alaska without port facilities to maintain them.[68] Sullivan questioned the veto, because it put in question whether the cutters could be placed in Alaska.

2021 storming of the United States Capitol

On May 28, 2021, Sullivan voted against creating an independent commission to investigate the 2021 United States Capitol attack.[69]

Personal life

While at Georgetown, Sullivan met fellow law student Julie Fate, a staffer for U.S. Senator Ted Stevens. Sullivan and Fate married and had three daughters. Fate is the daughter of retired dentist and former Alaska State Representative Hugh "Bud" Fate and Mary Jane Fate, who was once the co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives.[5]

As of 2018, according to OpenSecrets.org, Sullivan's net worth was more than $2.3 million.[70]

Electoral history

Alaska Senator (Class II) Republican Primary, 2014[71]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Sullivan 44,740 40.05
Republican Joe Miller 35,904 32.14
Republican Mead Treadwell 27,807 24.90
Republican John M. Jaramillo 3,246 2.91
Total votes 113,752 100.0
Alaska Senator (Class II) General Election, 2014[72]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Sullivan 135,445 47.96
Democratic Mark Begich (incumbent) 129,431 45.83
Libertarian Mark S. Fish 10,512 3.72
Independent Ted Gianoutsos 5,636 2.00
Write-in 1,376 0.49
Total votes 282,400 100.00
Alaska Senator (Class II) General Election, 2020[73]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Sullivan (incumbent) 191,112 53.90
Independent Al Gross 146,068 41.19
Alaskan Independence John Howe 16,806 4.74
Write-in 601 0.17
Total votes 354,587 100.0%

References

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External links

Legal offices
Preceded by Attorney General of Alaska
2009–2010		 Succeeded by
John Burns
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Alaska
(Class 2)
2014, 2020		 Most recent
United States Senate
Preceded by United States Senator (Class 2) from Alaska
2015–present
Served alongside: Lisa Murkowski		 Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by as United States Senator from Oklahoma Order of precedence of the United States
as United States Senator from Alaska
since January 3, 2015		 Succeeded by
Chris Van Hollen
as United States Senator from Maryland
Preceded by United States senators by seniority
74th

Template:United States senators from Alaska

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114th
Senate: L. Murkowski • D. Sullivan
House: D. Young
115th
Senate: L. Murkowski • D. Sullivan
House: D. Young
116th
Senate: L. Murkowski • D. Sullivan
House: D. Young
117th
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  1. ↑ Axelrod, Tal & Zack Budryk. Sullivan wins reelection in Alaska, giving Republicans 50 seats in Senate, The Hill, November 11, 2020.
  2. ↑ [1]. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  3. ↑ Biography[permanent dead link], community.adn.com; accessed November 6, 2014.
  4. ↑ DNR Commissioner Dan Sullivan Deployed to Afghanistan Archived October 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Anchorage Daily News, July 22, 2013; retrieved July 31, 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Profile, adn.com, April 19, 2014; accessed November 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ Profile, adn.com; accessed November 6, 2014.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Article 3 - The Executive, law.justia.com; accessed September 9, 2016.
  10. ↑ Alaska legislature unanimously confirms Sullivan Archived April 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, adn.com; accessed November 6, 2014.
  11. ↑ Alaska Attorney General John Burns begins work, Fairbanks Daily News Miner, December 27, 2010.
  12. ↑ Jessica M. Karmasek,Burns is Alaska's new attorney general, Legal NewsLine, December 1, 2010; retrieved September 9, 2016.
  13. ↑ "DNR Commissioner Dan Sullivan Deployed to Afghanistan" Archived October 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, adn.com, July 22, 2013; accessed November 6, 2014.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ "Sullivan declares victory in high- takes GOP Senate primary", Alaska Dispatch News, Dermot Cole, August 20, 2014; retrieved August 22, 2014.
  20. ↑ Bohrer, Becky. Voted yes for Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh 106/18. sSenator Sullivan's father's company RPM made parts for Boeing during the Reagan era. Republican Dan Sullivan wins Senate race in Alaska, Associated Press, November 12, 2014.
  21. ↑ Peligri, Justin. Republican challenger defeats Begich in Alaska Senate race, CNN, November 12, 2014.
  22. ↑ Walshe, Shushanna. Alaska Senate Race: Why Democrat Mark Begich Refuses To Concede, ABC News, November 12, 2014.
  23. ↑ Joseph, Cameron. Begich concedes Alaska Senate race, The Hill, November 17, 2014.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  34. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  61. ↑ 61.0 61.1 Becky Bohrer, [2] Alaska US senator says he will support Barrett nomination, Associated Press (October 21, 2020).
  62. ↑ Erin McGroarty,Sullivan backs Trump appointee for Supreme Court, Daily News-Miner (October 24, 2020).
  63. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  64. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  66. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  67. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  69. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  70. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  71. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  72. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  73. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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