Man with same name as US Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible for Alaska’s primary ballot, judge rules
The ruling restores the challenger after a judge said the state relied on an unstated good-faith standard to remove him from the ballot.
- On Friday, Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews ruled that challenger Dan J. Sullivan is eligible for the August primary, overturning Elections Director Carol Beecher's June 15 decision to disqualify him from the ballot.
- Beecher had disqualified Sullivan, claiming his candidacy was not filed "in good faith" and was designed to confuse voters given his identical name and party affiliation with the incumbent Republican senator.
- The 69-year-old challenger, a retired teacher, argued his candidacy was legitimate, while Matthews wrote the disqualification was based on a new, previously unstated "good faith" criteria that "was not based on the Constitution, Alaska law or the Division" of Elections.
- Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and allies condemned the challenger's efforts, accusing him of working with Democrats and former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola to cause confusion and boost her campaign.
- Attorneys for the state had argued that Tuesday was the deadline for a final ruling so ballots for the Aug. 18 primary could be printed, though Matthews' ruling can be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
179 Articles
179 Articles
NEWS HEADLINES: Alaska Judge Lets a Second “Dan Sullivan” Onto the GOP Senate Ballot – 100PercentFedUp.com – by Jack
Alaska now has two men named Dan Sullivan headed for the same Republican U.S. Senate primary ballot, and a judge just made sure of it. Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews ruled Friday, June 26, 2026, that Dan J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, is eligible to appear on the state’s August 18 primary ballot. The decision overturns a June 15 ruling by Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, who had disqualified the challen…
Judge puts 2nd Dan Sullivan back on ballot in Alaska's U.S. Senate race
Dan Sullivan from Petersburg, left, wants to challenge U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, right. (Alaska Public Media) A Superior Court judge says the Alaska Division of Elections was wrong to disqualify Petersburg retiree Dan Sullivan as a challenger to U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan. Judge Thomas Matthews said the decision to drop the candidate “was based upon a new, previously unstated, ‘good-faith’ criteria” that’s not in the Constitution or state law. “In add…
Judge rules name game can’t trump Constitution on Alaska ballot
An Alaska judge has ruled that a candidate sharing the same name as the state’s incumbent U.S. senator must be allowed on the primary ballot. As Straight Arrow previously reported, Daniel J. Sullivan had been removed from the ballot after state officials concluded his candidacy was a deliberate attempt to “confuse or mislead” voters who might mistake him for the two-term Republican incumbent, Sen. Dan Sullivan. In a decision issued after expedit…
Alaska Judge Keeps Second Dan Sullivan on Primary Ballot
Alaska voters may now see double in August's GOP Senate primary. A state judge on Friday reinstated Dan J. Sullivan—who shares both a name and party with Sen. Dan Sullivan—after elections officials tried to knock him off the ballot over concerns he was running in bad faith. Superior...
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