Second Dan Sullivan ineligible for ballot in Alaska Senate race, official rules

Washington — A campaigner for Senate successful Alaska with the aforesaid sanction arsenic Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is not eligible to look connected the ballot successful the state's primary, an Alaska predetermination authoritative determined connected Monday, citing a "determined effort and a deliberate attempt" to confuse Alaska voters. 

The candidate, named Daniel J. Sullivan, announced earlier this period that helium was challenging the sitting senator, sparking disorder months up of the August superior — and interest among Republicans. 

In a letter to the campaigner connected Monday, Elections Director Carol Beecher concluded that Sullivan's introduction into the contention was not done to "declare an existent good-faith candidacy for the bureau of United States Senator, but was alternatively filed with a intent to confuse oregon mislead and to thereby compromise the ballot's fairness oregon neutrality."

Beecher noted that astatine 1 point, Daniel J. Sullivan tried to record arsenic conscionable "Dan Sullivan," contempt ne'er utilizing that iteration of his sanction to vote. Beecher pointed retired that Daniel J. Sullivan adjacent tried to database "S" arsenic his mediate archetypal — the aforesaid archetypal arsenic the incumbent senator. She besides outlined however the 2 run websites look similar, suggesting a "deliberate" appropriation of Sen. Sullivan's campaign.

The sitting legislator brought the concern to reporters' attraction astatine the Capitol earlier this month, accusing Democrats of being "complicit successful trying to instrumentality Alaskans" to "rig an predetermination successful their favor." Meanwhile, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Alaska Republicans had been pushing to region Daniel J. Sullivan from the ballot. Republican Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom past week opened an probe into the non-Senator Sullivan's candidacy.

Beecher noted that a governmental advisor for Daniel J. Sullivan has ties to the Democratic Party and Sen. Sullivan's expected Democratic challenger, erstwhile Rep. Mary Peltola. 

Daniel J. Sullivan has 30 days to entreaty the decision.

The Alaska Senate contention is expected to beryllium among the astir competitory of the rhythm arsenic Democrats look to flip the spot successful their efforts to instrumentality power of the chamber. But it's expected to beryllium an uphill conflict successful a authorities that President Trump won by 13 points successful 2024.

Kaia Hubbard contributed to this report.