Key facts
- The Alaska Supreme Court ruled a man with the same name and party as U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan can be on the August primary ballot.
- The court reversed a decision by the Division of Elections to remove the challenger.
- The challenger's candidacy was initially deemed not filed in good faith and intended to confuse voters.
- A state court judge had previously found the election division abused its discretion.
The Alaska Supreme Court has ruled that a man with the same name and party affiliation as Republican U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan is eligible to appear on the August primary ballot. The decision on Monday affirmed a previous ruling by state court Judge Thomas Matthews, who found that the Division of Elections had abused its discretion in removing the challenger.
The Division of Elections, through its director Carol Beecher, had initially decided on June 15 that the challenger's candidacy was not filed in good faith and was intended to confuse voters. However, Judge Matthews stated that Beecher's decision was not based on constitutional requirements for serving in the Senate or on state laws.
The dispute began when the challenger filed his candidacy approximately a month ago, sparking accusations from Senator Sullivan and his allies, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee, that the challenger was a sham candidate aiming to disrupt the election. Republican Lt. Governor Nancy Dahlstrom, who oversees elections, initiated an investigation into the challenger's candidacy.
This situation is unfolding in one of the most closely watched U.S. Senate races this year, which could influence control of the chamber during President Donald Trump's final two years in office.