Alaska election official bars Senate candidate over name dispute

Alaska’s elections director has disqualified Republican Senate candidate Dan J. Sullivan from the race because his name closely matched that of incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan. The ruling, issued Monday, leaves only one Dan Sullivan running for Alaska’s U.S. Senate seat. Republican leaders had argued that the candidacy could confuse voters and siphon support from the sitting senator.

According to the election office, the filing was not made in good faith. In its decision, the office said a candidacy submitted to mislead or confuse voters, or to harm the fairness of the ballot, is not lawful. Elections Director Gail Fenumiai said the application was filed “not in good faith with a genuine intent to run for the office,” but rather “to confuse or mislead and thereby impair the fairness or neutrality of the ballot.”

The office cited several reasons for the rejection: Sullivan had registered as a Republican only days before filing, he was working with an adviser associated with the Democratic Party, his campaign website resembled the incumbent senator’s site, and he tried to register under a name identical to Dan S. Sullivan’s.

Dan J. Sullivan can appeal the decision within the next month. The Republican candidate and Democrat Mary Peltola both denied any coordination, and Sullivan said he was running in good faith. Polls currently show Peltola with a slight lead over incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan in the closely watched race.