Alaska Election Chief Bars Republican Candidate Over Shared Name With Incumbent Senator

Alaska’s election director has disqualified Republican Senate candidate Dan J. Sullivan, who shares the same first and last name as incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan, in a race that is already very tight. The decision, announced Monday, means only one Sullivan remains on the ballot for Alaska’s U.S. Senate seat.

Republicans in the state accused Democrats of trying to confuse voters and siphon votes from the sitting senator by putting Dan J. Sullivan into the contest. They argued that his candidacy could mislead some voters and help Democratic candidate Mary Peltola. Both Peltola and Sullivan denied any coordination, and Dan J. Sullivan said he was running in good faith.

The election office said several factors supported the disqualification, including that Sullivan registered as a Republican only days before filing, worked with an adviser identified with the Democratic Party, used a campaign website similar to the incumbent’s, and tried to register under an identical name to Dan S. Sullivan. The office said, “A declaration of candidacy filed with the intent to confuse or mislead voters and harm the fairness of the ballot is not lawful.”

The head of the election office said the filing was “not submitted in good faith with a genuine intent to run for the office,” but rather to confuse or mislead and damage the ballot’s fairness or neutrality. Dan J. Sullivan can appeal the ruling within the next month. Current polling shows a slight lead for Democrat Mary Peltola over Republican incumbent Dan S. Sullivan.