Man with same name as US Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible for Alaska's primary ballot, judge rules

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 1:18 AM EDT, June 27, 2026


JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A man with the same name and party affiliation as Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible to challenge the senator in the August primary, a judge ruled Friday.

Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews’ ruling overturns a June 15 decision by Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher to disqualify the challenger and keep him off the primary ballot. Matthews’ ruling can be appealed to the state Supreme Court. Attorneys for the state have said Tuesday is the deadline for a final ruling so that ballots for the Aug. 18 primary can be printed.

The judge ruled that the Division’s decision to exclude Dan J. Sullivan because his candidacy was not “in good faith” was not based on the Constitution, Alaska law or the Division’s own regulations. The retired teacher from the small fishing community of Petersburg filed to challenge the incumbent. “Instead, the decision was based upon a new, previously unstated, ‘good faith’ criteria,” the judge wrote.

Attorneys for the state did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday’s ruling. Jeffrey Robertson, Dan J. Sullivan’s attorney, said in an email he expects the Division to appeal the ruling and couldn’t comment until the Alaska Supreme Court rules on the case.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/alaska-senate-dan-sullivan-primary-ballot-01906fdc5d1eadf2e9b69c98baf1ec9a

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REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143673890
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143675687
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143676351
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143678247
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143679874