In Juneau, Alaska, a retired teacher named Dan Sullivan is challenging the decision to disqualify him from the August primary ballot for the U.S. Senate seat. His candidacy was removed by Carol Beecher, Director of the Division of Elections in Alaska, alleging it violated state and federal law. Sullivan claims he is a qualified candidate and the disqualification lacks legal basis. His attorneys point out that the U.S. Constitution provides exclusive qualifications for Senate candidates related to age, citizenship, and residency.
Dan Sullivan, sharing the same name as incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, has faced allegations of being a sham candidate. Critics suggest he might be working with Democrats to boost Mary Peltola’s chances. Both Peltola and state Democrats deny these claims, as does Sullivan.
This Senate race includes over a dozen candidates and is important for both major political parties’ efforts to control the Senate. Steve Kirch, representing the Division of Elections, stated the agency wouldn’t comment on ongoing reviews. The Department of Law assured it would defend the election division’s decision.
Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom had launched an investigation into the challenger Sullivan’s motives. Beecher concluded Sullivan’s candidacy was not in good faith, intending to mislead voters and compromise ballot fairness. No evidence of alleged coordination with Democrats was mentioned in her decision.
Sullivan’s voting registration as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. and change to Republican affiliation sparked suspicion, alongside similarities between his campaign and the senator’s. His involvement with a consultant linked to Democrats added further doubt.
Beecher cited regulations prohibiting misleading ballot information. Legislative attorney Andrew Dunmire advised that the division could design the ballot to help voters differentiate between candidates without excluding Sullivan.
Previously, Sullivan was certified and listed as Dan J. Sullivan, while the senator was denoted as Dan S. Sullivan, recognized as the incumbent. Alaska’s open primaries allow the top four candidates to proceed to a ranked-choice general election.