Alaska Senator’s Policy Decisions Stir Controversy Over Family Business Ties
Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan’s support for certain policies has raised questions about potential conflicts of interest due to their benefits to RPM International, his family’s industrial company.
RPM International, headquartered in Ohio, was founded by Sullivan’s grandfather in 1947 and is currently managed by his brother, Frank C. Sullivan. The company is known for products like Roto-Rooter and Rust-Oleum.
Senator Sullivan has disclosed owning RPM stock valued at up to $5 million, making it the largest individual corporate holding among Alaska’s congressional representatives.
The New York Times reported that the company’s stock value appreciated last year as RPM increased dividends through strategic responses to tariff policies initiated by former President Donald Trump. This included shifts in manufacturing locations, restructuring imports, and price adjustments.
Sullivan has consistently backed Trump’s tariffs, voting against initiatives to reduce or remove them. While these tariffs have bolstered some sectors, they have also led to increased prices for essential goods in Alaska, such as groceries and lumber.
According to a KTUU News analysis, Alaska ranks second to Hawaii in terms of expensive grocery costs nationwide.
Moreover, RPM’s financial performance benefited from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), a 2025 budget law that Sullivan endorsed. The legislation maintained the corporate tax rate at 21%, a reduction from the previous 35%, and was partly funded by a $1 trillion Medicaid cut affecting over 13,000 Alaskans’ health coverage.
During a July 2025 earnings call, Russell Gordon, RPM’s CFO, noted that the OBBB was “nothing but good news” and expressed satisfaction that a proposed corporate tax increase to 28% would not be implemented.
The 21% tax rate initially resulted from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Sullivan also supported.
Sullivan’s voting record has occasionally been criticized for potential favoritism towards RPM. In 2020, Salon highlighted his opposition to regulating carcinogens, some of which are found in products made by RPM.
As Sullivan seeks a third term in the Senate, he faces a notable challenge from former Representative Mary Peltola.
