Judge Rules Alaska Senate Challenger Eligible to Appear in Primary

A judge has ruled that Dan J. Sullivan, who shares a name and party affiliation with Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, is eligible to challenge the incumbent senator in the upcoming August primary. This decision overturns a previous ruling by Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, who had disqualified the challenger.

Judge Thomas Matthews decided that Beecher’s disqualification was not supported by the Constitution, Alaska law, or existing division regulations. The challenge to the ruling can go to the state Supreme Court, with a final decision deadline set for Tuesday so that primary ballots for August 18 can be printed.

The Division of Elections initially excluded challenger Dan J. Sullivan due to a new ‘good faith’ criterion that Judge Matthews ruled irrelevant. The division plans to appeal the decision, according to Sam Curtis from the state Department of Law.

Jeffrey Robinson, representing Dan J. Sullivan, expected the appeal but has reserved comments pending a Supreme Court decision. The challenger is a retired teacher from Petersburg, Alaska.

The situation has highlighted tensions within the Senate race, a contest Democrats aim to win to regain Senate majority. The state had favored former President Trump by 13 points in the 2024 election, indicating a challenging pathway for Democrats.

The sitting Sen. Sullivan and allies, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, argue that the presence of another candidate with the same name could lead to voter confusion. Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom has initiated an investigation into Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy.

Alaska’s election system advances the top four primary candidates, regardless of party, to the November general election, which uses ranked-choice voting.

Sen. Sullivan accuses the challenger of conspiring with Democrats, particularly with former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s campaign, to disrupt his reelection bid. Both Peltola and the challenger have denied these claims.

Carol Beecher cited similarities between the challenger’s campaign materials and the senator’s, questioning the intent behind his candidacy, particularly given his recent Republican registration and work with Democratic consultants. Despite this, no evidence of collaboration has surfaced.

State attorneys maintained that Alaska’s Constitution does not necessitate that misleading candidates appear on the ballot, while the challenger’s legal team pointed out constitutional criteria based solely on age, citizenship, and residency.

Dan J. Sullivan believes his shared name and affiliation offer him significant visibility, having contemplated a Senate run previously due to dissatisfaction with the senator. He was certified as Dan J. Sullivan, while the incumbent appears as Dan S. Sullivan.