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Man with same name as US Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible for Alaska’s primary ballot, judge rules
The ruling restores the challenger after a judge said the state relied on an unstated good-faith standard to remove him from the ballot.
- On Friday, Superior Court Judge Thomas Matthews ruled that challenger Dan J. Sullivan is eligible for the August primary, overturning Elections Director Carol Beecher's June 15 decision to disqualify him from the ballot.
- Beecher had disqualified Sullivan, claiming his candidacy was not filed "in good faith" and was designed to confuse voters given his identical name and party affiliation with the incumbent Republican senator.
- The 69-year-old challenger, a retired teacher, argued his candidacy was legitimate, while Matthews wrote the disqualification was based on a new, previously unstated "good faith" criteria that "was not based on the Constitution, Alaska law or the Division" of Elections.
- Alaska Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan and allies condemned the challenger's efforts, accusing him of working with Democrats and former U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola to cause confusion and boost her campaign.
- Attorneys for the state had argued that Tuesday was the deadline for a final ruling so ballots for the Aug. 18 primary could be printed, though Matthews' ruling can be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
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75 Articles
Superior Court judge rules in favor of namesake challenger to Sen. Dan Sullivan
The ruling by Judge Thomas Matthews, who said the Petersburg Sullivan is an eligible candidate and shall appear on the primary ballot as a Republican, is expected to be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
·Anchorage, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources75
Leaning Left33Leaning Right5Center25Last UpdatedBias Distribution52% Left
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources lean Left
52% Left
L 52%
C 40%
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