Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) has floated Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska as a potential replacement for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth under a scenario in which Sullivan loses his reelection bid and Hegseth is removed from the Trump administration.

The suggestion comes as Hegseth's future at the Pentagon has drawn renewed attention following the Republican Party's losses in the November 3 midterm elections. President Donald Trump has reportedly asked advisers whether Hegseth should remain in the position, although the president publicly defended his defense secretary, saying he was doing a very good job. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly also said Trump has full confidence in Hegseth.

Sullivan's potential departure from the Senate remains uncertain. Democrat Mary Peltola held a narrow lead over the Republican incumbent in the initial Alaska results, with the race still unresolved as additional ballots are counted and the state's ranked-choice voting process plays out.

Sullivan, a former Marine Corps Reserve colonel, serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee and has been involved in congressional oversight of the military. He voted to confirm Hegseth as defense secretary in January 2025, after receiving commitments from the nominee concerning military readiness, Alaska's strategic importance and defense investments in the state.

Kelly, a retired Navy captain and former astronaut, has been one of Hegseth's prominent Democratic critics. The two have clashed over the Pentagon's efforts to censure Kelly and potentially reduce his retired military rank following his participation in a video urging service members to refuse unlawful orders. Kelly subsequently sued Hegseth, arguing the Pentagon's actions violated his First Amendment rights.

Any consideration of Sullivan for the position would depend on two separate developments: his eventual election outcome in Alaska and a decision by Trump to replace Hegseth. The president has not announced plans to remove Hegseth, and Sullivan has not been announced as a candidate for the position.