Alaska election division says Dan Sullivan challenger with same name ineligible for Senate primary

Alaska's Division of Elections determined Monday that Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan's challenger, who is running with the same name, is not eligible for the Senate primary in August because his candidacy was not done in actual "good faith."

Both candidates are seeking the Republican nomination and would run against former Alaska Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola. Both men are running as Dan Sullivan but the senator's middle initial is an S, while the other Dan Sullivan's initial is J.

Alaska Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher said evidence shows Dan J. Sullivan chose the name and party because it was the same name and party as another candidate and was an attempt to confuse voters, according to the Washington Examiner.

His declaration of candidacy “was not filed in order to declare an actual good-faith candidacy for the office of United States Senator, but was instead filed with a purpose to confuse or mislead and to thereby compromise the ballot’s fairness or neutrality," she wrote.

The challenger has denied allegations that he is attempting to confuse voters and is secretly a Democrat, claiming his name dates back to his grandfather and that he is a moderate who has supported candidates in both parties.

A Federal Elections Commission complaint alleges that a press release from Daniel J. Sullivan's campaign contained metadata showing it was authored by Amber Lee, of Amber Lee Strategies, a consulting firm with an "exclusively progressive client roster." He also used logos and a website that feature similar colors, imagery and fonts as Sen. Sullivan. 

The candidate has 30 days to appeal the order, but he would need to get his name on the ballot by June 28 because of a printing deadline. The primary itself is scheduled for Aug. 18.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.