A Superior Court judge in Alaska ruled Friday that a retired teacher named Dan J. Sullivan can remain on the August primary ballot as a challenger to Republican US Senator Dan Sullivan, who shares his name and party affiliation.
Judge Thomas Matthews overturned a June 15 decision by Division of Elections Director Carol Beecher, who had moved to disqualify the challenger on the grounds that his candidacy was not in good faith. Matthews found that reasoning did not hold up, according to CBS News.
"Instead, the decision was based upon a new, previously unstated, 'good faith' criteria," the judge wrote in his ruling.
The state is appealing. Sam Curtis, a spokesperson for the state Department of Law, confirmed the appeal by email Saturday. Attorney Jeffrey Robinson, who represents the challenger Dan J. Sullivan, said he expected the appeal and could not comment further until the Alaska Supreme Court rules. Tuesday is the deadline for a final ruling so that ballots for the August 18 primary can be printed.
The Alaska Senate seat is among roughly half a dozen US Senate races expected to be competitive in the fall. Democrats are trying to flip the seat, though it is considered an uphill battle in a state President Trump carried by 13 points in 2024. Democratic former US Representative Mary Peltola is considered the senator's main opponent.
Senator Sullivan has accused the challenger of working with Democrats and with Peltola's campaign to sow voter confusion. He accused Democrats of being "complicit in trying to trick Alaskans" to "rig an election in their favor." Peltola's campaign, state Democrats, and the challenger have all denied the allegation.
The senator and Peltola are the two highest-profile candidates in the race and the only ones who have reported raising money. Under Alaska's election system, the top four finishers in the primary, regardless of party, advance to the ranked-choice general election in November.
Republican Lieutenant Governor Nancy Dahlstrom opened an investigation earlier this month into the non-senator Sullivan's candidacy. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has also condemned the challenger's entry into the race.
