Alaska Senator Faces Scrutiny Over Campaign Spending
Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan has come under scrutiny for spending over $1.5 million in campaign funds on luxurious hotels and restaurants, as revealed in his financial disclosures.
Federal regulations permit the use of campaign funds for meals and travel, provided these expenses are connected to official activities and not personal indulgences.
The questionable expenditures span Sullivan’s Senate career, from 2015 to his current reelection bid. He is vying for a third term this year, with expectations to compete against former Representative Mary Peltola in the general election.
The spending is distributed among three entities: Alaskans for Dan Sullivan, his primary campaign committee; Sullivan Victory, a joint fundraising committee; and True North PAC, which supports other Republican candidates under Sullivan’s leadership.
In early 2026, these groups collectively expended $65,847 on dining and lodging, with approximately 92% of this amount spent outside of Alaska. Notable expenses include a $3,500 stay at the Four Seasons resort in Palm Beach, Florida.
In 2025, these entities allocated $333,291 for lodging, meals, and catering, a significant increase from the $164,936 spent in 2024.
Over the past decade, Sullivan’s campaign has frequently chosen hotels renowned for golfing amenities. This trend was highlighted in an April press release by the Alaska Democrats.
“While we’re paying $5 for a gallon of gas, choosing between paying for groceries or health care, and struggling to afford housing, Self-Serving Sullivan has literally been wining and dining Lower 48 special interest donors at luxurious golf resorts,” stated Eric Croft, Chair of the Alaska Democratic Party.
An example of such spending is at the La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs, California, with Sullivan’s groups reporting 24 payments totaling $160,737 for accommodations, dining, and event spaces.
Though La Quinta is typically seen as a mid-range hotel chain, its Palm Springs location is a luxurious resort featuring five golf courses, expansive rose gardens, and private pools. It was also the backdrop for season 16 of The Bachelorette.
From 2022 to 2025, Sullivan’s groups reported expenditures exceeding $151,000 on lodging and events at Kiawah Island, a coastal barrier island in South Carolina, primarily at the Kiawah Golf Resort, famous for hosting the 2021 PGA Championship.
An October 2025 report by Bloomberg News noted that Sullivan co-hosted a fundraiser on Kiawah Island with Senator John Boozman of Arkansas during a government shutdown. Boozman is known as an enthusiastic golfer.
Earlier this year, Sullivan’s groups spent $21,000 at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona, a private resort renowned for its golf course designed by Phil Smith, a three-story spa, and celebrity clientele.
The Phoenician offers room rates reaching up to $9,500 per night.
Between 2019 and 2025, Sullivan’s groups reported $2,441 in expenses at The Breakers resort in Palm Beach, known for its oceanside golf course and proximity to former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate.
This lavish spending contrasts with Sullivan’s attempts to present a working-class image, often attending campaign events dressed in work boots and a Carhartt jacket.
Quiver Quantitative estimates Sullivan’s net worth at $8.4 million.
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