The number of candidates named Dan Sullivan on the Alaska ballot for the U.S. Senate has been reduced. The state’s director of elections ruled that Dan J. Sullivan, who shares his name with incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan, is not eligible to run.
Republicans accused Democrats of trying to confuse voters by supporting Dan J. Sullivan, a former teacher. They claimed this could divert votes from the incumbent and benefit Democratic candidate Mary Peltola. Both Peltola and Dan J. Sullivan deny any joint effort, with Sullivan stating his campaign was genuine.
State election officials disagreed. Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom initiated an investigation into Sullivan’s candidacy. Last week, elections director Carol Beecher gave a preliminary ruling likely removing him from the ballot unless he proved his legitimacy as a candidate.
On Monday, Beecher wrote she had not received the necessary evidence. She stated, “A declaration of candidacy filed for the purpose of confusing or misleading voters and compromising the fairness of the ballot is not properly filed.” Consequently, she de-certified his candidacy.
Beecher cited several reasons for her decision. She noted that Dan J. Sullivan’s request to be listed as “Dan Sullivan” instead of his registered name “Daniel J. Sullivan, Jr.” seemed intended to mislead voters about his identity. She highlighted an instance where he mistakenly referred to himself as “Dan S. Sullivan” in an email, using the middle initial of the incumbent senator, which is not his own.