An Alaskan judge ruled on June 27, 2026, that Dan J. Sullivan can appear on the ballot as a Republican Senate candidate, despite efforts by election officials to block him due to his name being the same as the incumbent, Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. The Alaska Division of Elections had previously deemed Dan J. Sullivan ineligible, claiming his candidacy was intended to mislead voters. Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews overturned this decision, stating it lacked constitutional and legal basis, and emphasized a presumption in favor of candidate eligibility. The ruling is expected to be appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court before primary ballots are printed on June 28, 2026. The primary election is scheduled for August 18, 2026, under Alaska's ranked-choice voting system. Concerns have been raised by Republicans that Dan J. Sullivan's candidacy may confuse voters and affect the election outcome against former Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK). Both Peltola and the state Democratic Party have denied any connection to Dan J. Sullivan.
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Alaska Judge Allows Dan Sullivan to Appear on Primary Ballot
A judge in Alaska has ruled that Dan J. Sullivan can run as a Republican candidate for the Senate, overturning a previous decision by election officials who sought to block his candidacy due to his name being the same as the incumbent. The ruling is set to be appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court ahead of the primary election on August 18, 2026.
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Judge rules Dan Sullivan can appear on Alaska primary ballot against Sen. Dan Sullivan
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Alaska Judge Allows Dan Sullivan to Appear on Primary Ballot