WASHINGTON, June 27 - An Alaska Superior Court judge has ordered that Dan J. Sullivan be placed on the state's August 18 primary ballot, allowing him to run in the same contest as incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan. The judge's decision overturns a recent move by the Alaska Division of Elections to remove the challenger as ineligible.
Carol Beecher, director of the Alaska Division of Elections, last week had taken Dan J. Sullivan off the ballot after Republican Party officials raised objections, saying his use of the same name as the senator could mislead voters. The challenger Dan J. Sullivan, who has not held elected office and previously worked for the U.S. Forest Service and as an elementary school teacher, was thus excluded from the list of primary candidates prior to the court ruling.
In a late Friday decision, Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews said the criteria used to justify the removal were applied in "good-faith" but are not reflected in the U.S. Constitution or Alaska election law. The judge concluded: "Mr. Dan Sullivan is declared to be an eligible candidate." Local media reported the ruling was expected to be appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court as election officials face a Tuesday deadline to begin printing primary ballots.
The state's primary process is nonpartisan, meaning all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party. The top four vote-getters in that primary will advance to the November general election.
Republicans, including Senator Dan Sullivan, have argued that Democrats recruited the challenger to create confusion and potentially help Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola, a former congresswoman. Peltola and the Alaska Democratic Party, as well as Senator Sullivan's campaign, did not immediately provide comment when contacted. Dan J. Sullivan's campaign was also not available for comment.
Context and next steps
- The ruling restores the challenger to the primary ballot, but the decision may be reviewed by the Alaska Supreme Court.
- Ballot printing is subject to a Tuesday deadline, which could be affected by any appeal.