In Juneau, Alaska, a controversy unfolded as a man sharing the name and party affiliation with Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan contested his disqualification from the August primary ballot. A court document argued that Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher’s decision violated state and federal law, seeking to reinstate the candidacy.
The challenger, a retired teacher from Petersburg, claims he meets the qualifications for the U.S. Senate and criticizes election officials for lacking legal grounds to remove him. According to his attorneys, the U.S. Constitution lists three qualifications: age, citizenship, and residency, none of which the candidate fails to meet. Additionally, they argue that Alaska law does not control private reasons for running or campaigning for office.
Sen. Dan Sullivan, along with the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has labeled the challenger a fraudulent candidate, accusing him of colluding with Democrats to help Democratic ex-U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola’s campaign. However, Peltola’s team, state Democrats, and the challenger deny these accusations.
This Senate race, featuring numerous candidates including Sen. Sullivan and Peltola, is significant in the midterm elections, with both parties aiming for control over the chamber.
Steve Kirch, Division spokesperson, and Sam Curtis from the Alaska Department of Law stated the agency will defend the division’s decision, anticipating a prompt court ruling. The decision to disqualify the challenger, declared in June by Beecher, followed allegations of deceitful candidacy filed for the purpose of misleading voters.
Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom had initiated an investigation into competing Sullivan’s candidacy based on claims of coordination for voter manipulation. Beecher’s decision did not mention any evidence linking the challenger with Peltola or Democratic officials, although she cited factors such as Sullivan’s voter registration as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., party affiliation changes, website similarities, and consulting ties with Democrats.
Questions arose regarding the suitability of listing the name on ballots. Legislative attorney Andrew Dunmire suggested ballot design solutions allowing voters to discern between the two candidates. His argument aligns with the challenger’s legal team.
Initially, the challenger was certified as Dan J. Sullivan, while the senator was listed as Dan S. Sullivan, marked as the incumbent. Alaska’s open primaries let the top four candidates proceed to a ranked-choice general election regardless of party.
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